AfroSport acquires broadcasting right for AFCON, commence operation in Nigeria
Sport fans across Nigeria are stepping into a new world of sports entertainment as AfroSport TV Kicks off operations on the Free TV network.
AfroSport TV, a sub-Sahara Africa’s first 24-hour free continent-wide sports channel has commenced operations in Nigeria with the exclusive right to broadcast the 2021 African Cup of Nation on Free TV and on Digital Terrestrial Television in Nigeria and across Africa.
Announcing the operations of the channel in Lagos recently, Principal Consultant of AfroSport TV, Mr. Rotimi Pedro, said AfroSport TV is committed to delivering to Nigerians and Africa for free, top quality and depth of service that is usually found only on Pay TV channels. According to Pedro, sport fans will now be getting unrestrained access to premium sports content, supported by a fleet of AfroSport productions that will both engage and educate audiences through an identifiable local conversation whilst shining a light on the achievements of African athletes past and present to the World of sport.
The AfroSport TV country representative added that the channel has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the biggest continental football extravaganza, AFCON 2021, which kicks off on 9 January 2022. Sport fans can enjoy all the 52 matches that will be transmitted on a tripod of Free-to-air TV networks like the NTA Network Service; selected Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria’s (BON) TV Stations and AfroSport TV Channel 730 on National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) digital platform – Free TV.
Mr. Rotimi Pedro further added that “Africa has some of the best Pay TV sports delivery in the World, that is vital to rightsholders and fans alike. AfroSport will seek to focus on the 90% of fans who are not able to subscribe to Pay TV and allow them to participate in the enjoyment of the best of sport.”
“There is both a compelling commercial and moral reason for AfroSport to exist. Commercially, with a potential audience in Nigeria of more than 150 million people, AfroSport provides a method of communication that is essential for brands to market their products and will be an essential component for rightsholders – both global and local – to establish a strong following for their products. Morally, when you consider the powerful role that sports have played in societies, it is only right that a continent that has given so much enjoyment to the world of sports through its sons and daughters over the past 100 years and still continues to do so currently should not face exclusion for a majority of its population when it comes to viewing and enjoying sport. Many will never get the chance to attend a World Cup, go to Olympics, or attend a match in Wembley or the Staples Centre, and the TV is the closest that they will get to enjoying collectively what is enjoyed around the world. AfroSport’s aim is to inspire a billion dreams”, Mr. Pedro concludes.
Free TV is the public private partnership, backed by Nigerian broadcast regulator/government and INVIEW that will be the default FTA platform as the long-awaited Digital Switch Over (DSO) moves into gear with the roll out across the country, including Lagos, Kano, Jos, PH and Abuja. Currently in over 1,000,000 homes with a target of over 25 million in the next 12 to 18 months.
