Ahead of the 2017-2018 football calendar, soccer ruling body, FIFA, has granted media rights to five broadcasting companies in sub-Saharan Africa. The announcement of the successful media followed an “open tender process for 42 territories” to that effect. The rights guarantees coverage of FIFA events during 2017-2018, which include FIFA U-20 World Cup 2017; FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017; FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017; FIFA Confederations Cup 2017; FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018; FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2018 and 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The successful media companies are: Econet Media, Supersport, SABC, StarTimes and CANAL+.
The coverage of these events will be possible by way of free to air or pay-TV transmission in specific African countries or territories. In a release, FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer Philippe Le Floc’h, noted that “the outcome of this tender process enables FIFA to reach its aim of securing the widest possible coverage across the region with the highest profile matches available on a free-to-air basis,” and that “by working together with reliable partners in the region, FIFA will make sure that football fans have access to a high-quality viewing experience for each of the FIFA events, including by way of digital platforms.” He added that FIFA is “delighted to work with our appointed broadcast partners in the sub-Saharan region to allow millions of fans to enjoy each of FIFA’s various events across a multitude of platforms.”