Advanced Television

Kwesé TV brings ESPN back to Africa

March 8, 2017

Econet Media’s Kwesé Sports and ESPN has launched the ESPN channel on the Kwesé TV bouquet. This collaboration with Africa’s emerging home of premium sports marks the much anticipated return of ESPN to the African continent. The channel comes after the announcement of the long-term agreement between the two sports broadcasting powerhouses which confirmed Kwesé Sports as the home of ESPN in Africa.

Along with live sports, the channel introduces unique original programming including an African edition of the popular SportsCenter programme. Hosted by ESPN’s Philip Murphy, SportsCenter will cover the latest in sports news, highlights and updates in its signature fast-paced format, which has made it one of the most loved and awarded shows in television.

The channel aims to be the first choice for fans wanting the latest news and updates and promises a diverse programming schedule designed to appeal to even the most discerning sports fan. The launch programming for March includes; March Madness which tips off on the 15th, X Games action live from Norway, Indy Car 2017 and AFL.

In addition to launching the ESPN channel, Kwesé and ESPN will launch an African edition of the ESPN website and mobile app later this year. Leveraging ESPN’s position as the world’s leading digital sports brand and Kwesé’s pan-African reach and TV everywhere multiplatform distribution, these digital destinations will keep sports fans up-to-date with access to news, scores, features, video, live games and matches wherever they are — putting the best in international sports in their pocket! KweseESPN.com and the new KweseESPN app, coupled with the Kwesé App, will give its viewers 24/7 access to all the latest in sports from across the globe in a way that has never existed for African sports fans.

Commenting on the launch, President and CEO of Econet Media Joseph Hundah said “This is a real game changer. In ESPN we have a collaborator that enhances our offering to our viewers. We have always aimed to deliver premium sports programming and we continue to bring the best to our sports fans, through our acquisitions of top-shelf sports rights and our investment in our platforms and in how we deliver our programming whether through Pay-TV, Free-to-air or digital mobile platforms. The launch of this channel is significant as it cements our place as a leading provider of sports programming in Africa”.

Added Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International, “We are thrilled to be working with a fellow innovator like Econet to bring ESPN and SportsCenter back to television screens in Africa and expanding the Kwesé and ESPN digital connection with fans. This launch is just the beginning of how these two great companies will serve fans Africa.”

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