Econet acquires English Premier League free-to-air rights in Africa

The Premier League is pleased to announce that Econet Media has acquired the package of free-to-air broadcasting rights that it makes available in sub-Saharan Africa.

The agreement is for the three seasons 2016/17–2018/19 and Econet, through its Kwese Sports platform, will make available one Saturday afternoon Premier League match live on a free-to-air basis each weekend of the season.

The matches, along with weekly preview and review shows, will be available in 50 countries across the region.

"We are very pleased that Econet Media has chosen to invest in the package of free-to-air broadcasting rights that we have made available in sub-Saharan Africa,"  Premier League Executive Chairman, Richard Scudamore, said. "Premier League clubs enjoy passionate support across sub-Saharan Africa and these rights are important to ensuring that as many fans as possible can follow and enjoy our competition."

Econet Media CEO Joseph Hundah said: "England's Premier League is a globally prestigious sporting competition, one that is deeply loved by millions of African sports fans. As such we are very committed to obtaining these rights and have invested significantly to acquire them.

"We want to make this League available to fans across sub-Saharan Africa and so, through Kwese Sports FTA partners and other platforms, we hope to widen access to this property."

The agreement was announced shortly before the latest edition of BPL Live, a fan park for fans of Barclays Premier League football. This year it is being held in Cape Town, South Africa, over the weekend of 19-20 March after the success of its first edition in Johannesburg in 2014.