This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (June 2017) |
ESPN Africa is an African pay television sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (which owns a controlling 80% stake) and the Hearst Communications (which owns the remaining 20%), that was re-branded in August 2014, replacing Setanta Sports and Setanta Action. The channel broadcasts in Sub-Saharan Africa in English and French. It was also previously available for a brief period in 2016 in Portuguese.
 | |
| Broadcast area | Sub-Saharan Africa |
|---|---|
| Network | ESPN |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English French |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | ESPN Inc. (The Walt Disney Company 80%, Hearst Communications 20%) |
| Sister channels | Fox (closed) Fox Life (closed) National Geographic Channel Nat Geo Wild Disney Channel Disney Junior |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 August 2014 |
| Replaced | Setanta Africa Setanta Action |
| Former names | Fox Sports Africa (2014–2019) |
| Links | |
| Website | africa.espn.com |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| GOtv | Channel 37 |
| DStv | Channel 218 Channel 219 (ESPN2) |
| Zuku TV | Channel 320 Channel 321 (ESPN2) |
| StarTimes | Channel 248 Channel 249 (ESPN2) |
| AzamTV | Channel 120 Channel 121 (ESPN2) |
Its programming mainly features football from Eredivisie, Scottish Premiership, Belgian Pro League and English Football League. The network was also a long-standing broadcaster of the South American competitions Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana across Africa until the rights moved in 2017.[citation needed]
Also broadcasts: NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA, PFL, NRL rugby league and Basketball Africa League.
Previously, as the Irish-owned Setanta Africa, the channel broadcast GAA hurling and gaelic football, plus League of Ireland football.
In August 2019, it was announced that the network would rebrand as ESPN Africa on 30 August 2019, due to the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney.[1]
References
edit- ^ "Walt Disney Company Africa to rebranding FOX Sports channels in Africa". Alberton Record. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.