Tag Archives: The Walt Disney Company Africa

NBA, ESPN Africa agree broadcast deal

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The US-based National Basketball Association (NBA) and entertainment and sports programming network ESPN Africa have announced a multi-year broadcast deal to provide expanded NBA coverage on the African continent.

Kyle De Klerk

Disney-owned ESPN Africa will feature original content covering NBA Africa events, including youth and elite basketball development programming, NBA player and legend appearances.

The programming network will broadcast all 45 games live in primetime in Africa, ESPN2 will broadcast 30 classic games each season and will air the NBA Christmas Day games, NBA All-Star, the Play-In Tournament, weekly magazine show NBA Action, the NBA Draft and multi-game live look-in programme NBA 360.

Audiences across Africa will also have access to new localised NBA programming.

Kyle De Klerk, The Walt Disney Company Africa’s director of sports, said: “As the home of American sports in Africa, ESPN is committed to showcasing the very best in premier sporting content through a uniquely diversified and exciting portfolio of sporting leagues to audiences across Africa.

“This extended broadcast agreement with NBA Africa expands on this promise, and the exhilarating new programming on offer will give fans across the continent even more opportunity to share in the passion and excellence of this renowned league.”

Kornelia Semmelink, NBA Africa senior director of global media partnerships, added: “ESPN Africa airing a record number of NBA games and providing more locally relevant content to our fans underscores the momentum for the NBA in Africa and will help us continue to grow the game across the continent.

“Through this expanded collaboration, we will make the excitement of the NBA more accessible to fans in Africa on the devices and platforms they use most, including in primetime.”

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MultiChoice brings Disney+ to South Africa

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Pay TV company MultiChoice has partnered with The Walt Disney Company Africa to bring streaming service Disney+ to the company’s DStv digital satellite platform in South Africa.

Christine Service

Disney+ is set to launch in South Africa on May 18 and will be available to DStv subscribers via the Explora Ultra decoder. They will have access to a collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action, animated series and shortform content.

Christine Service, senior VP and general manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa, said: “This is yet another proud milestone in our partnership with the MultiChoice Group. We are delighted to be collaborating to bring South African DStv subscribers access to Disney+’s incredible catalogue of films, series and exclusive content.”

Calvo Mawela, group CEO of MultiChoice, added: “In line with our business objective of adding value and enhancing our ecosystem, we are focused on making sure that all our customers can enjoy their favourite shows and movies anywhere, anytime, on our world-class platforms.

Calvo Mawela

“The digital world has brought with it fundamental shifts and our customers are looking for convenient access to a portfolio of entertainment options. MultiChoice’s partnership with Disney+ leads with an expanded choice of content, ease and convenience of subscription and payment, with the DStv Explora Ultra as an enabler.”

Disney+ launched in the US in November 2019 and has since expanded around the world and amassed more than 130 million subscribers. It will be available in more than 50 countries by the end of 2022 and in over 160 by the end of 2023.

As well as the South African launch next month, Disney+ will also debut in the Middle East and North Africa on June 8 and in Israel on June 16.

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MultiChoice scores ESPN deal

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MultiChoice Group (MCG) has struck a deal with The Walt Disney Company Africa to bring sports content from ESPN to the African pay TV operator’s customers.

Calvo Mawela

Two 24-hour ESPN channels, ESPN and ESPN2, have been added to MultiChoice’s offering today. They feature European football and major US sport including the NBA, the NFL and Major League Baseball, including live fixtures.

Local sports including the West African Football Union Cup of Nations and boxing will also be shown.

MCG CEO Calvo Mawela said: “We endeavour to deliver both world-class international content as well as the very best in local content. In addition to being the home of American sports, ESPN is equally well known for its dedication to great storytelling.”

Christine Service, senior VP and country manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa, added: “From reliving the greatest moments in sports history to seeing those moments being made, ESPN’s compelling content and unique personality will be a complementary addition to MultiChoice Group’s sports offering.”

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Disney, SABC ink content distribution deal

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The Walt Disney Company Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) have signed a distribution deal allowing the latter to broadcast ESPN content to viewers across South Africa.

Gary Rathbone

Through the SABC Sports channel, viewers will have access to a wide range of Disney-owned ESPN’s local and international live sporting events, news programming and sports films.

They will also be able to watch football matches from the English Championship, the Dutch Eredivisie and the U20 Championships from Nairobi, plus highlights from the US Major League Soccer, premiere football news round-ups from ESPN’s magazine shows, and the popular ESPN FC.

In addition, viewers can see live broadcasts of 2022 events including the World Race Walking Championships from Belarus, the second season of the Basketball Africa League and live boxing events.

SABC sport general manager Gary Rathbone said: “This agreement is going to add significant depth to our current offering on the SABC Sports channel. Our channel will now offer unrivalled content to our local sport fans seven days a week, thanks to ESPN’s great boxing archive and film and documentary library. With the addition of long-awaited regular live boxing events, as well more live football, athletics and African basketball, it’s clear this partnership will deliver right across the board for our viewers.

“This partnership will not only give our viewers access to great sports content but will see the SABC sport channel and our teams benefiting from the resources and experience that this collaboration with ESPN offers.”

Kyle De Klerk, director of sports at The Walt Disney Company Africa, added: “With this content agreement, we are excited to not only be bringing ESPN’s unprecedented and compelling sporting offering to new audiences, but to also be taking a great step in highlighting and celebrating some of the up and coming leagues and athletes from around this continent.”

Christine Service, senior VP and general manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa, said: “We are delighted to be extending our relationship with SABC to include ESPN, bringing another diversified and exciting brand from Disney’s portfolio to local free-to-air audiences.”

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