UK’s Sky Sports secures rights to show all 52 AFCON games

UK pay-TV giant Sky Sports says it has secured the rights to broadcast every match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the continent’s premier football tournament that holds every two years.

Sky’s deal covers all 52 games, kicking off from January 13 and running until February 11. Fans in the UK and elsewhere linked to Sky Sports will be able to catch the action live on Sky Sports Football, the dedicated football channel, and Sky Sports Mix, accessible to all Sky TV viewers. Streaming via Sky’s NOW TV service is also available.

The tournament starts with hosts Ivory Coast facing Guinea-Bissau, with 24 teams playing in the tournament as holders Senegal look to retain their title.

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This year’s AFCON has seen late distribution of broadcasting rights, causing concerns in the continent and elsewhere.

Togo-based satellite TV network New World TV acquired the rights to all CAF competitions in sub-Saharan Africa for the next three years but was initially unable to agree a sub-licensing deal with Multichoice, AFCON partner since 1992 and major sports broadcaster in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

While a deal with Scandinavian streaming service Viaplay was announced on January 3, a deal for sub-Saharan Africa block of 46 countries remained in limbo.

Agreements with both StarTimes and South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) finally secured coverage for the tournament. StarTimes delivers all games exclusively on its Sports Premium, Sports Life, and Beta Sports channels, while SABC will offer live and delayed TV and radio broadcasts.