McDonalds and Hollywood Bets jointly pay R50 million as sponsors for SABC to acquire Afcon 2023 tournament from New World TV.

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.

ALSO READ: SABC, StarTimes and StarSat sublicense full 2023 Afcon tournament from New World TV widening the cracks in MultiChoice's SuperSport dominance.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 9 October 2017.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ Netflix's latest price increase shows that original content is not enough.
In order to justify Netflix's massive original content budget, Netflix is forced to raise prices as competition is eroding Netflix’s business model. Netflix's content costs continue to outpace its revenue growth. 

■ It's an uphill battle for pay-TV operators in Africa to make a dent against MultiChoice's DStv.
New Nigerian rival TStv is already lying to customers and stealing channels like CNN International and beIN Sports with content that it isn't authorised to have.

■ New drama series about Bill Carter's book "Desperate Networks" is in the works.
Revolves around the behind-the-scenes TV biz world of big shows, big TV executives and the fight for ratings.

■ Chaos at trashy McDonalds engulfed in customer nightmare after failing to give potentials customers the promised Szechuan dipping sauce.
McDonalds fails on its promise to provide the Szechuan dipping sauce from the Rick and Morty TV animation show.
- Meanwhile McDonalds South Africa discriminates against the South African breakfast that isn't considered a "meal" in its latest promotion.



■ MUST READ: In a Wall Street Journal article veteran producer David E. Kelly slams Amazon Studios.
"They are in way over their heads," says David E. Kelly who is unhappy with Amazon. The Wall Street Journal notes the conflict of interest of Amazon Studios executives Joe Lewis and Roy Price.
- Joe Lewis, Amazon Studios' head of drama and comedy pressured The Tick to cast his girlfriend Yara Martinez in a role.
- Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios, encouraged his team to buy the idea for a series from his fiancee Lila Feinberg.
- Joe Lewis and Roy Price did not respond to WSJ's request for comment on the story.



■ Harvey Weinstein's media enablers.
The real story about the Hollywood mogul as sexual abuser didn't surface because too many people in the intertwined news and entertainment industries had too much to gain from Harvey Weinstein.
- A MUST READ: Why the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment didn't come out until now.
- Hollywood's loud silence on Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment.

- Fox News reporter Lauren Sivan says Harvey Weinstein masturbated in front of her and that he trapped her in an empty kitchen, ejaculated in a pot plant and Lauren Sivan didn't come forward because she feared Harvey Weinstein's power. Weinstein Company and Lisa Bloom goes silent about Harvey Weinstein's masturbation attack.

- NBC Nightly News does almost nothing about the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal while ABC and CBS covers it in-depth.
- Hilariously Harvey Weinstein says he still plans on suing The New York Times because he was only given 2 days to respond to their media enquiry.
- Harvey Weinstein is likely to fall off his Hollywood awards throne.


- The British writer Liza Campbell says Harvey Weinstein trapped her and told her to take a bath with him and "soap me".
- And another "appeared naked in her bedroom" Harvey Weinstein encounter.
- Harvey Weinstein fired on Sunday without knowing it.