The sale of television rights is the prime source of revenue for footballing organisations worldwide but is particularly critical to Africa. Yet the Confederation of African Football (Caf) keeps making headlines for sacking its broadcasting partners. It faces potential litigation for recently terminating a US$415 million deal with the Qatari-based beIN Sports, the second TV contract in four years that the governing body of African football has unilaterally scrapped. Sports communications and media expert Chuka Onwumechili unpacks why this is happening and what impact it has.
How important are TV rights to African football?
TV rights are particularly critical because alternative commercial revenues such as sponsorships and merchandising are more limited in Africa.
Access to these broadcasting deals provides critical funds to help grow and support African football at various levels, including administration and funding for national associations and players.
Moreover, most global football viewers familiar with the top African stars who play in Europe are unable to see these players featuring for their home countries without these broadcasting deals.
What was the beIN deal?
The deal was signed in 2017 and was to last 12 years, until 2028. It allowed three Caf competitions – the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the Caf Champions League and the Caf Confederation Cup – to be broadcast live in 40 countries across the world, including the Middle East, Europe and the US.
The relationship between Caf and beIN Sports began in 2009. BeIN became Caf’s anchor partner after Caf’s disagreement with Lagardère Sports and Entertainment in 2019 and the termination of that contract. Caf has now terminated the beIN deal too.
Caf is now potentially left without a broadcast partner in key markets. This TV blackout is set to happen just a few months ahead of Afcon, Caf’s flagship tournament, which is due to be hosted by Côte d’Ivoire in January 2024. There are also World Cup qualifiers and continental club competitions scheduled soon.
How will this affect fans?
Fans all over the world will not be able to watch their heroes live on television. It will adversely affect interest in African football, which has attracted increasing attention in recent years.he sale of television rights is the prime source of revenue for footballing organisations worldwide but is particularly critical to Africa. Yet the Confederation of African Football (Caf) keeps making headlines for sacking its broadcasting partners. It faces potential litigation for recently terminating a US$415 million deal with the Qatari-based beIN Sports, the second TV contract in four years that the governing body of African football has unilaterally scrapped. We asked sport communications and media expert Chuka Onwumechili to unpack why this is happening and what impact it has.
How important are TV rights to African football?
TV rights are particularly critical because alternative commercial revenues such as sponsorships and merchandising are more limited in Africa.
Access to these broadcasting deals provides critical funds to help grow and support African football at various levels, including administration and funding for national associations and players.
Moreover, most global football viewers familiar with the top African stars who play in Europe are unable to see these players featuring for their home countries without these broadcasting deals.
What was the beIN deal?
The deal was signed in 2017 and was to last 12 years, until 2028. It allowed three Caf competitions – the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the Caf Champions League and the Caf Confederation Cup – to be broadcast live in 40 countries across the world, including the Middle East, Europe and the US.
The relationship between Caf and beIN Sports began in 2009. BeIN became Caf’s anchor partner after Caf’s disagreement with Lagardère Sports and Entertainment in 2019 and the termination of that contract. Caf has now terminated the beIN deal too.
Caf is now potentially left without a broadcast partner in key markets. This TV blackout is set to happen just a few months ahead of Afcon, Caf’s flagship tournament, which is due to be hosted by Côte d’Ivoire in January 2024. There are also World Cup qualifiers and continental club competitions scheduled soon.
How will this affect fans?
Fans all over the world will not be able to watch their heroes live on television. It will adversely affect interest in African football, which has attracted increasing attention in recent years.
How do Caf’s deals compare with global ones?
Caf’s deal with beIN is exclusionary: one major broadcaster has rights to all the big tournaments. Most global confederations allow competition among broadcasters, with each assigned a slice of a tournament. For example, in Europe the Champions League rights are divided among separate broadcasters. In other cases, different tournament in the region are each assigned to different broadcasters.
Source: The Conversation
