by Thinus Ferreira
The fast-food chain McDonalds and the gambling site Hollywood Bets are jointly paying about R50 million to be the two main sponsors of the South African public broadcaster's coverage of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament kicking off on 13 January.
The SABC (for the free-to-air rights), as well as China's StarTimes trading as StarSat in South Africa (for the pay-TV rights), sub-licensed the rights to the Afcon 2023 from Togo's New World TV.
MultiChoice and SuperSport are sitting out this year's Afcon taking place in Ivory Coast - the first time since 1992 that there won't be any coverage of this continental Africa football tournament.
In South Africa, 2023 Afcon will still be seen on DStv however when watching the SABC's channels carried on DStv. Afcon coverage and matches will also be on eMedia's Openview free-to-air satellite service since the SABC's TV channels are carried on Openview as well.
The SABC sublicensed the rights to all 52 of the 2023 Afcon matches, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
"The SABC is happy that we have two headline sponsors who covered the costs of about R50 million - a betting company and a fast-food outlet. As things stand, it's all systems go," the SABC says.
SuperSport says it doesn't see its lack of 2023 Afcon coverage damaging either SuperSport or DStv.
"Due to the structural nature and economics of the pay-TV business, we do not expect it to have any material impact on our business," says Sibusiso Mjikeliso, SuperSport communications manager.
