ESPN, FOX And Warner Bros. Discovery To Launch Joint Sports Streaming Platform

Walt Disney’s ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery plan to launch a joint sports streaming service this fall, giving consumers a new way to access marquee live sports for the first time, the companies said Tuesday.

The platform, which will be owned by a newly formed company with its own leadership team, does not yet have a name or a price. Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery will each own a one-third stake.

Consumers would be able to subscribe directly via a new app. Subscribers would also have the ability to bundle the product with the companies’ streaming platforms Disney+, Hulu and Max.

The product will be a skinnier bundle of linear networks than a standard cable offering, specifically tailored for sports fans. It will consist of all the broadcast and cable networks owned by Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery that carry sports, along with ESPN+.

From Disney, that includes ESPN and its sister networks, such as ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, as well as the ABC broadcast network. Warner Bros. Discovery’s networks that showcase sports are TNT, TBS and TruTV. Fox will include the Fox broadcast station along with FS1, FS2 and BTN.

“The launch of this new streaming sports service is a significant moment for Disney and ESPN, a major win for sports fans, and an important step forward for the media business,” Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said in a statement. “This means the full suite of ESPN channels will be available to consumers alongside the sports programming of other industry leaders as part of a differentiated sports-centric service.”

The launch of the product will not stop ESPN from offering a full direct-to-consumer streaming product, which Disney is still researching, according to a person familiar with the matter. ESPN has previously said it plans on releasing that product this year or next year.

The competitors expect to form the joint service at a time when the value of sports media rights is spiking, but viewers have moved away from watching on traditional cable.

Disney, in particular, has suffered from a shift away from its ESPN network, and sought new ways to revive the business, including searching for strategic partners such as the National Football League and the National Basketball League.

News Shorts: German Based Broadcaster Deutsche Welle Shutters It's Linear Operations Across Europe And Africa, National Geographic And ESPN Have Been Added To Zuku TV And A Rebroadcast Of Dayan, Destructive Beauty Launches On eExtra

DW goes dark across Europe

The move is part of a package of measures presented by DW director Peter Limbourg to the DW broadcasting council in Berlin on March 17, 2023.

“We will no longer broadcast linear programming in German after the changeover, but we will offer singular content on digital platforms,” the DW spokesman said. The date for the closure of the German TV channel has not yet been set. “I’m not able to provide a specific date at this time,” he added.

With the package of measures as part of the 2024 budget planning, Limbourg wants to drive the digital transformation of the German international service. Included are savings, budget shifts from linear to digital offerings and to regional languages, as well as investments in digital working environments.

Zee TV dying down on eExtra

After cutting down on primetime for more Annekan Die Swa Kry and axing Naagin much earlier than anticipated. A rebroadcast of Dayan, Destructive Beauty is expected to join the channel's line-up in the coming weeks replacing the timeslot of Naagin supposedly.

Dayan, Destructive Beauty was the first and probably last Bollywood drama to have been made exclusive to eVOD before being added to linear platforms. Now eVOD's international drama lineup outside of Kuiertyd is revolved on content viewed on eSeries and eExtra.

It follows Janvi Maurya, a well-educated and family oriented girl hailing from Ujjain, stumbles upon a dangerous ploy by an evil force as many unusual and mysterious happenings occur in her hometown. With a threat to her life, she must unmask the identity of a Daayan.

Sports makes a comeback on Zuku TV

Last year, it was revealed through several social outlets that Zuku TV will be relaunching National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Baby TV and ESPN 1 after removing them back in 2021. The only difference FOX and ESPN 2 aren't part of this offering.

These channels were replaced with Animal Planet, Discovery and TLC from Warner Bros. Discovery, Filmbox from SPI International and Planet Fun years prior. But the pay-tv platform failed to substitute the sporting line-up with any chances of a replacement likely dead at this point.

News Shorts: Warner Bros. Discovery Acquired Turkish Streaming Service BluTV, Bunk'd To End With A Season 7 On Disney Channel And Disney To Discontinue The FOX Sports Brand In Latin America For ESPN

Max and Discovery+ have a new home in Turkey

For the past three years, Warner Bros. Discovery and BluTV — Turkey’s first local SVOD service — have had a partnership that made WBD a 35% shareholder in BluTV. Since its 2016 launch, BluTV has shown rapid growth both in original content and its content library, leading to the launch of Discovery+ on the platform in 2021. In February, HBO content and kids channels were added to BluTV, giving viewers access to channels like Cartoon Network and Cartoonito, as well as award-winning shows like “The Last of Us,” “Game of Thrones” and “Sex and the City.”

“We are very excited for this new chapter,” Jamie Cooke, GM CEE of Middle East and Turkey at Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement. “Turkey has been an important investment territory for us for over 20 years and the acquisition of BluTV brings Turkey’s first local SVOD player into our portfolio. The combination of compelling Turkish content and a broad range of the best international series and shows from Warner Bros. Discovery is an unbeatable recipe to be locally relevant and successful. Together we bring Turkish audiences the most compelling viewing experience and expand the reach of Turkish content globally.”

Fan favourite show has been axed by Disney

Bunk’d, Disney Channel‘s longest-running live-action series, will end its run with the conclusion of its current seventh season. The final installment of 10 new episodes will air in 2024.

Production on Season 7 was suspended in early May due to the WGA strike. At that time, filming had been completed on 12 episodes of the 20-episode Season 7, with eight episodes remaining to be shot. The order has now been increased to 22 episodes, and production on the remaining 10 episodes is underway.

Throughout its run, Bunk’d has been a top performer on linear TV and streaming platforms. Part 1 of Season 7 was summer 2023’s second most-watched live-action series and Top 10 series overall for kids 6-11 in combined viewing across streaming and linear platforms, according to Nielsen data (Live+7 for linear, live for streaming).

Disney is adding more ESPN channels

The Walt Disney Company has confirmed that as from February 15, 2024 it will rebrand all its Fox Sports channels in Spanish-speaking Latin America and Brazil in order to discontinue the brand in the region. The new Pay TV sports channels will be ESPN 5, ESPN 6 and ESPN 7. 

According to the information given by Disney, the changes to be introduced are the following:

-Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 AS ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7.

-Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7.

-Chile: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6, FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7 and FOX SPORTS 1 PREMIUM as ESPN PREMIUM.

-Central America: ESPN EXTRA is to be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 6.

-Brazil: ESPN EXTRA will change its name to ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 2 to ESPN 5. 

Recap To The Week: Disney's ESPN 1 Currently Seen On DStv And StarSat Is Set To Take On SABC Sport

During the day, it was reported that MultiChoice and Disney would be adding the US sports channel ESPN 1 to its R129 per month DStv Access package. It was previously only available on the R449-a-month Compact package or higher which concide with the addition of NWTV.

Since Openview's inception, it served as a rival brand to DStv's existing offering with general entertainment channels like eReality and eSeries, lifestyle brands like People's Weather and The Home Channel+ and Bollywood entertainment from Star Life and Zee One.

They had also garnered popularity from SABC Sport which serves as one of the top 10 most watched channels on the Openview platform.

In previous years, Access served as somewhat of an underling to the freemium platform as it lacked a worthy advisory to the current offering. Despite offering more channels there wasn't noteworthy content on the bouquet and in recent years MultiChoice had started to catch-up with eMedia Investments.

Zee Zonke was added back in August as the first Zulu dubbed telenovela channel and also Access consumers first Bollywood channel with the likes of Star Life and eExtra's Kuiertyd partially contributing to Openview's success and from December ESPN 1 will be added to the bouquet.

ESPN 1 features live football from the English Football League (EFL), Scottish Premier Football League (SPFL), Dutch Eredivisie and Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as local sports like West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations and featured boxing tournaments and events.

It will basically take on SABC Sport which too had been dominant on football particularly with Bundesliga, Cosafa Women’s Championship and Liverpool Football Club with other content like Racing Today (from 4Racing TV), Max Power and Retro Boxing.

Development Alert: MultiChoice And The Walt Disney Company Extend The Reach Of ESPN 1 To DStv Family And Access Customers PERMANENTLY

MultiChoice has announced that it is adding the US sports channel ESPN 1 to its R129 per month DStv Access package.

DStv Access customers will have access to the channel starting 1 December 2023. It was previously only available on the R449-a-month Compact package or higher.

ESPN focuses on US sports like basketball, American football, and baseball, giving fans of these sports in South Africa a significantly lower entry point to watch them.

Popular competitions include the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL).

“We continue to monitor viewership trends and are thrilled to be adding ESPN 1 for our DStv Access customers,” said Marc Jury, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.

“This announcement is our way of rewarding our loyal customers with a wider catalogue of entertaining content to choose from,” he added.

“We are also excited that this move will also give sports fans out there looking to get more, for less, an opportunity to stay in the game and take our offering to be front row of the best sports entertainment in the world.”

Basketball and American football fans in South Africa will have access to a slew of NFL and NBA fixtures over the festive season, including on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

“We look forward to celebrating the achievements and triumphs of both international and local athletes, our quality storytelling and innovative content with a brand new audience of sports fans across the continent,” says Kyle de Klerk, director of sport for the Walt Disney Company Africa.

Why The Disney Channel Could Be Shutting Down On DStv And NOT National Geographic And ESPN?

A few months ago, it was reported by Disney's CEO Bob Iger that the company is looking to sell their linear channels and these include ABC, FX, National Geographic and Disney Channel as these are not seen as part of the core for the brand. Of course, it doesn't include content or the studios they use to manufacture them.

Internationally, the company has shuttered several linear channels across Asia and Europe with more territories set to join by the end of this current financial year. As seen in these markets, further content had been folded under Disney+ with the company looking to exclude the streamer in several countries and to cutback on original programming.

Now in Africa (excluding North Africa), the only known region to distribute the streamer is South Africa and with these recent developments I honestly wouldn't be shocked if Disney+ were to limit their stance in the region perhaps supply selected content to local steamers in the region if not at all.

On the basis of their linear offering, MultiChoice distributes their remaining linear offering which include factual and wildlife brands National Geographic and National Geographic Wild, children brands Disney Channel and Disney Junior and sports brands ESPN 1 and ESPN 2.

As seen in most parts of Europe which is where we reside, these brands have been dying down particularly Disney Channel and/or Disney Junior. The latter had been bombarded with reruns to past programming if not a bulk of content from Disney+ and the other is just clinging around 1 program to build their schedule.

It wouldn't seem far fetched if one or both of these channels were to be on the close down with National Geographic and ESPN serving as the remaining linear offering for not only DStv but the rest of Africa. That's what's currently being seen in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Turkey so why not Africa.

The only reason these channels are still on would be for revenue as Disney would need the income to produce shows like Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire and getting these onto their linear platforms would be one way to boost their future endeavours being Disney+. But as seen in a recent interview by Bob Iger that may not be the case here anymore.

Bob Iger was able to brief the media on why these closures are occurring and it doesn't paint a good picture for their channels in Africa as stated below they're seen a decline in revenue for both their local and international channels. They even highlight there's been a major decline in the general entertainment sector.

At Linear Networks, operating income declined versus the prior year by $580 million driven by declines at both domestic and international channels.

It could explain why FOX and Disney XD were ripped away from parts of the world and why ESPN and National Geographic (in Europe) haven't closed off yet as they see more value there particularly with ESPN as they look to restructure the business and turn ESPN into a major powerhouse in sports.

As mentioned, Disney will be closing off more channels by the end of the current financial year particularly in Asia and with MultiChoice's contract set to expire in the coming months I wouldn't be shocked if Disney were remove more channels around the same period across Africa.

The only thing that's certain here is that ESPN and National Geographic could stick around for sometime before closing down as seen in some parts of the world as Disney is looking to go all streaming and this is part of a global effort which has taken longer to subside in several territories.

Amazon Reportedly In Talks To Buy Minority Stake In ESPN From Disney

Recently we learned that Disney was open to selling part of ESPN to a potential partner if the deal was right. This comes from a June interview with CNBC, where Disney CEO Bob Iger said he was open to partnering with other companies to make a new ESPN streaming service work including selling part of ESPN.

This comes as ESPN is working on launching a direct-to-consumer streaming service. This new service would let subscribers watch live ESPN without the need for cable TV.

Since that interview, reports have been flying about who Disney is talking to. Major sports leagues, including the NFL, and rivals like Comcast have all been suggested as potential ESPN Partners. Now, The Information is reporting that Amazon and Disney are in early talks to partner on ESPN’s streaming partnership.

According to the report, Amazon is in talks to possibly offer an ESPN streaming service, likely through its Amazon Channels service. This deal could also see Amazon take a minority stake in ESPN. Amazon has a lot to offer Disney with its ability to stream live events, and a customer base that Disney could use to promote ESPN’s new streaming service.

Amazon is not the only company Disney is reportedly talking to. A few weeks ago, the New York Post reported that Disney has been in talks with media companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Verizon, and T-Mobile, to name a few. The goal is reportedly to take advantage of their technology to help expand the reach of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Last week The Information reported that Verizon and Disney have started talks about a possible partnership with Verizon and ESPN. Verizon could be a great partner for its technology and a possible bundle deal similar to the Disney+ bundle Verizon recently offered to its wireless subscribers.

Disney owns 80% of ESPN, and the rest is owned by Hearst. Disney would likely want to keep as much ownership as possible, but if the right partner comes along it may be open to selling part of the storied sports network.

Disney To Close ESPN Player Across Europe, Middle East & Africa

Disney has announced that it will be closing down the ESPN Player streaming service, which operates across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia, on August 18th 2023.  ESPN Player offers a variety of sports, including basketball, baseball, American football, and many other sports.  There are thousands of live events & on-demand content, including ESPN Films plus four 24/7 ESPN TV channels.

Here’s the official statement:

ESPN Player to close on August 18th, 2023

We want to inform you that ESPN Player will be closing on August 18th, 2023. We appreciate your support over the years.

As of August 18th, you will no longer be able to stream live sports, replays, or on-demand content on ESPN Player. You will also be unable to access any of your ESPN Player account information.

ESPN Player has been running for years and was operated by Endeavour Streaming. However, the platform has been neglected in recent years, with the app only available on a very limited number of devices like Android and Apple tablets and smartphones.  So you couldn’t watch ESPN Player on your big screen through a Smart TV app or console.  I myself wanted to get ESPN Player earlier this year to watch the XFL, but since I couldn’t watch it on my TV, I didn’t bother in the end.  Also, the official social media accounts have been a little erratic in how often they post, which could have indicated a change was potentially coming.

Disney has announced where some of the content from the ESPN Player will be going, but it doesn’t cover every country, such as the UK.    There are many possible outcomes for what’s next for ESPN within the EMEA region.  Disney could have just decided it’s more cost-effective to just licence out its sports to other platforms in each country, or if it is planning on launching a new ESPN+ app globally, such as adding ESPN+ into Disney+ as a paid add-on.

There are dozens of ESPN documentaries available on Disney+ already, so it’s possible we could end up seeing ESPN documentaries heading here if there is no alternative plan for the brand within the region.  Unfortunately, we will just have to wait and see what happens next.

Disney has been making changes to ESPN this year to try to become more profitable, including making ESPN a stand-alone division, outside of the theme parks and entertainment divisions and, most recently, laying off staff across the sports division.

Here is where some of the sports content will be heading to:

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Stream MLB games live or on demand with an MLB.TV subscription. Subscribe today for the rest of the 2023 season for $94.99 or $24.99/month.

National Hockey League (NHL)

NHL.TV is available in selected territories. Information about the 2023-24 package will be made available prior to the start of the season.  Visit NHL.TV in mid-September for further details.

NCAA Football: Territories and Broadcasters

Israel, One Sport

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein: DAZN, Pro Sieben

Spain and Andorra: Telefonica

Netherlands: ESPN

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia: Sportklub

Czech Republic: AMC

Hungary: Network 4

Africa: ESPN

France: beIN

Italy: Helbiz

NCAA Basketball: Territories and Broadcasters

Israel: One Sport

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein: DAZN

Spain and Andorra: Telefonica

Netherlands: ESPN

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia: Sportklub

Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey: CIS, Saran

Greece, Cyprus: Saran

Africa: ESPN

France: beIN

Baltics: All Media

Italy: Helbiz

Middle East: MBC

Hungary: Network 4

Other NCAA Championships: Territories and Broadcasters

Netherlands: ESPN

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia: Sportklub

Africa: ESPN

Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia: Network 4

Israel: One Sport

Here are some useful details on the closure of ESPN Player:

How can a customer get a refund?

If you are an active subscriber, with time remaining on your subscription after August 18th you will be refunded the amount for that remaining time. No action is required by you. Refunds will be paid automatically to the payment card with which your initial purchase was made after August 18th.

Will it be a full refund?

You will be refunded based on the remaining length of your subscription after August 18th 2023.

If I purchased through Apple/Google/third party billing, how will I receive a refund?

Users will be refunded by the relevant app store or third-party provider. Refunds will be paid automatically to the payment card with which your initial purchase was made after August 18th.

Will the content be available until you close?

Yes, if you are an active subscriber, you will be able to stream live sports, replays, or on-demand content on ESPN Player. As of August 18th, you will no longer be able to stream live sports, replays, or on-demand content on ESPN Player. You will also be unable to access any of your ESPN Player account information.

How do I cancel now?

To perform all of the below actions, please head to My Account:

Update my payment method

Update my password

Review my payment history

Cancel my account

The Walt Disney Company To Close 11 Channels In Taiwan, Could Africa Follow Perhaps?

In 2021, The Walt Disney Company unveiled plans to close 100 international channels so there was a lot of fear for the Disney Channels in Africa following the closure of Disney XD and FOX but MultiChoice managed to secure rights for these brands through 2024.

Fast forward to 2023, The Walt Disney Company had confirmed the closure of more channels with consumers in Taiwan set to lose out on a number of brands including National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Baby TV, Star Entertainment and Star World.

Disney+ launched in 2019 and has since then become a top priority for the blue brand. Not much investment is going onto Disney Channel or National Geographic as the brands being used to promote the bulk of content seen on the streaming service.

Following the demise of these channels in Taiwan, there's now a lot of fear for these channels in Africa and I know MultiChoice had managed to carry Disney Channel, Disney Junior, National Geographic and National Geographic Wild through 2024.

But for all we know these channels could go dark by the 31st December 2023 at 23:59 which rounds up to 2024 as seen in Taiwan. It had been speculated that most of The Walt Disney Company"s linear offering won't leave past 2025 in European territories.

Disney XD was terminated in Africa alongside the United Kingdom's Disney Channels in 2020 followed by FOX which saw the brand exit Germany, Asia and Africa by 2021. Now there's rumours swirling that the brand would be closing channels across Africa by early 2024.

NBA Finals To Broadcast Live On ESPN Across Africa

ESPN Africa today announced that it will be broadcasting all of the 2023 NBA Final games, live across the African continent. Showcasing the highest level of professional basketball in the world, this year’s finals will see the Denver Nuggets go up against the Miami Heat, with the action being broadcast live on ESPN from Friday 2 June 2023 at 02:00 (CAT).  

The Miami Heat closed out a nail-biting Eastern Conference finals series against the Boston Celtics with a Game 7 win on Monday night and will face the Denver Nuggets in their quest to hold up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy for the fourth time in the league’s history, with three previous wins under their belt. The eighth-seeded Heat are just the second No. 8 seed team in NBA history to appear in the Finals.

The Denver Nuggets, who are appearing in the NBA Finals for the very first time, completed a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in their lead up to this point. Making good on their billing at the top seed in the Western Conference, featuring superstars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver have yet to lose a game at home this postseason.

The NBA Finals follows a "best of 7" format, where the first team to win four games out of the seven played is crowned as the champion. Should a winner not have been reached in the first four games, play will extend for an additional one or three games.

While the live broadcast of the NBA Final games will enable basketball enthusiasts to enjoy the games live at 02:00 or 02:30 (CAT), depending on the game, an additional broadcast will take place at 8:00 AM, with additional repeats at 11:00, 15:00 and 20:00 to provide viewers in regular viewing times more options to enjoy the sport. Now with extended reach through recently being made available on the DStv Compact packages, ESPN Africa will ensure that even more basketball enthusiasts across Africa have access to comprehensive coverage, including pre-game analysis, in-depth interviews, and captivating behind-the-scenes content, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the excitement and exhilaration of the games.

“ESPN Africa's commitment to delivering high-quality sports content extends to the NBA Finals games, providing viewers across the continent with an unrivalled viewing experience and the opportunity to witness basketball greatness unfold in real-time,” said Kyle De Klerk, Director: Sports of Africa at the Walt Disney Company Africa. “ESPN Africa continues to showcase its dedication to bringing the best sporting events to audiences across Africa, and we are looking forward to an exhilarating NBA Finals 2023” he added.

Basketball fans across Africa can stay updated regarding the NBA Conference Final games and other sports news by following @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visiting https://www.espn.com/. 

# # #

NOTES TO EDITORS

How to tune in to ESPN:

ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248 
ESPN2: DStv 219, Starsat 249

NBA 2023 Finals schedule:

Game
Date
Live Broadcast
Repeat Broadcast

NBA Finals Game 1
02-06-2023
02:30:00
02-06-2023 at 8:00, 11:00, 15:00 and 20:00

NBA Finals Game 2
05-06-2023
02:00:00
05-06-2023 at 8:00
11:00, 15:00 and 20:00

NBA Finals Game 3
08-06-2023
02:30:00
08-06-2023 at 8:00
11:00, 15:00 and 20:00

NBA Finals Game 4
10-06-2023
02:30:00
10-06-2023 at 8:00
11:00, 15:00 and 20:00

NBA Finals Game 5 *if necessary
13-06-2023
02:30:00
13-06-2023 at 8:00
11:00, 15:00 and 20:00

NBA Finals Game 6 *if necessary
16-06-2023
02:30:00
16-06-2023 at 8:00
11:00, 15:00 and 20:00

NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)
19-06-2023
02:00:00
19-06-2023 at 8:00
11:00, 15:00 and 20:00

All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
Schedule subject to change

Recap To The Month: ESPN To Exit DStv, StarSat And The Rest Of Africa As The Walt Disney Company Facilitates Streaming

In 2021, The Walt Disney Company unveiled plans to close 100 international channels in the coming future which included a range of  FOX, National Geographic and Disney Channels. This past week it was reported that the brand is opting to make ESPN a streaming exclusive.

This news doesn't come as a surprise as mentioned they already closed a couple of channels across the world and also this was discussed back in 2022 but more of a what if scenario as they're still looking at ways of getting this off the ground.

The idea similar to Disney+ is to rollout ESPN as a standalone streaming service. There is regions already bundling sports under Disney+ so it's likely that this streaming service will rollout under the streamer if not a standalone or add-on.

Despite their cancellation on DStv and StarSat, The Walt Disney Company revealed they're still willing to distribute selected content on cable meaning these outlets alongside various in the region will likely use existing sports channels if not replacements for the content.

Similar to National Geographic and Disney Channel where content such as The World According To Jeff Goldblum and Monster Inc: The Series were made exclusive to Disney+ now the content can be viewed on the mentioned brands alongside local broadcasters.

Seeing as there's no timeframe as to when the indefinite will occur my guess would be between 2025-2027 as the company is currently looking to review the NBA deal in the hopes to stream them on ESPN+ (or Disney+) and the other BBC is looking to become an online platform.

New Channel Alert: DStv Compact Gets ESPN 2

DStv added ESPN 2 to its channel catalogue for Compact subscribers, increasing its sports offering for these customers to ten channels.

ESPN 2 is the home of basketball and American football in South Africa, with the channel airing National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Football League (NFL) content.

“This announcement is our way of rewarding our loyal customers with a wider catalogue of entertaining content to choose from,” says MultiChoice South Africa CEO Marc Jury.

Regarding content, MultiChoice said Compact customers could look forward to the NBA playoffs and NFL draft in the coming weeks.

“DStv Compact subscribers will] be able to watch, among others, the nail-biting NBA playoffs and soon, the highly-anticipated NFL draft,” the company said.

Despite the NFL’s biggest event of the year — the Super Bowl — concluding in February, NFL fans can look forward to the draft, which is scheduled to take place from 27 to 29 April 2023.

The draft is the primary player recruitment event for the tournament, and NFL said a schedule of games should follow in May.

“We are excited to be bringing ESPN’s compelling content and unique personality to new viewers across Africa,” says the Walt Disney Company Africa’s director of sports Kyle de Klerk.

“With our unparalleled portfolio of international, local and US leagues, together with live games, sports news, films and documentaries, audiences now have every opportunity to relive the greatest moments in sports history and see those moments being made.”

ESPN 2 is available to DStv Compact subscribers on channel 219 from Thursday, 6 April.

More Entertainment For DStv Customers??? As MultiChoice Adds ESPN 2 To DStv Compact With Ignition And Possible Africa Magic Epic On DStv Access

In February 2023, MultiChoice announced a price increase that came to affect by the end of March. It is a yearly tradition and honestly not a lot of people are shocked by this just disappointed. Unlike most years, the pay-tv company bears gifts for selected DStv customers.

ESPN 2, the non-football channel operated in a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Corporation is home to motor-racing, rugby league, ice hockey, basketball, baseball as well as action sports such as live boxing and a range of magazine shows.

Available to DStv Premium and Compact+ on channel 219 was made available to Compact.

Ignition, owned by Arena Holdings is SA’s only TV channel dedicated to motoring. It has a strong local flavour featuring car reviews, spinning, tuning, bikes and kasi car culture, blended with the best international supercar and adrenalin-pumping content.

Available to DStv Premium, Compact+, Compact and Family was made available to Access.

Awaiting confirmation would be Africa Magic Epic, owned by M-Net a movie channel showcasing the best of West African particularly Nigeria and Ghana. It is currently seen on DStv Premium, Compact+ and Compact with sites listing it under Family and Access.

In other developments, SuperSport Motorsport was currently running an open window to Compact+ customers with Access customers in the rest of Africa getting access to WWE Channel for the duration of WrestleMania.

What You Need To Know About The NFL Super Bowl 2023?

It’s finally here. The 2023 American National Football League’s Super Bowl, the 57th annual showdown between the best of the best, will broadcast live, exclusively across Africa on ESPN (Dstv 218, Starsat 248) in the early hours of the morning on Monday 13 February 2023. One of the most anticipated sporting events on the U.S. calendar, the annual championship game, which will see the league’s top franchises competing to hold the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy, will air live at 1:30 AM (CAT) with repeats at 8:00, 17:00 and 22:00 on ESPN2 and at 14:00 on ESPN.

Here are a few things you need to know:

Super Bowl LVII will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona between Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles, who’ll be competing in their fifth Super Bowl, will be sporting their home green jerseys, while the Chiefs, who’ll be playing in their fifth Super Bowl, will be in white.

In what some may call an awkward moment, Andy Reid who coaches the Chiefs, was the Eagles head coach from 1999-2012. He will essentially be doing his best to defeat a team he spent over a decade building.

Perhaps even more interesting is the situation mom Donna Kelce finds herself in as the first mother to have two sons play against each other at the Super Bowl. Her younger son Travis plays Chiefs tight end while her son Jason plays centre for the Eagles. She has been spotted wearing a “half-and-half” top ahead of Super Bowl LVII, incorporating the colours of her both of the teams.

DStv Flex:
- Virtual Reality offers a new opportunity for African filmmakers
- Ratings for DStv from December 2022
- Big Cat Sunday this February on National Geographic Wild
- CBS Reality acquired rights to Killer's Caught On Camera

Beyond sport, the Super Bowl is a truly global cultural event, as well-known as for the cutting-edge commercial spots and half time show as it is for the actual game. This year, the half time show will be performed by popular artist Rihanna. The halftime show typically lasts around 15 minutes and is expected to contain an impressive medley of anthems from the nine-time Grammy award-winning artist.

The national anthem will be sung by Chris Stapleton -  a country music singer that has 15 Country Music Association and 10-Academy of Country Music Awards in addition to being an Eight-time Grammy. Stapelton follows artists such as Mickey Guyton, Eric Church, Demi Lovato, Gladys Knight and others who have had this honour in the past.

How to tune in to ESPN:

ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248 
ESPN2: DStv 219, Starsat 249

All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
Schedule subject to change

ESPN Africa Boxing Heads To The East Coast This Summer

The Walt Disney Company Africa and Suncoast today announced that they will be bringing a series of ESPN Africa Boxing events to Durban, hosted exclusively at Suncoast. The agreement also sees the Suncoast Towers and Sunsquare Hotel becoming the hotel partner for the series in Durban.

The ESPN Africa Boxing events at Suncoast will take place on 17 November 2022, 26 January 2023 and 30 March 2023 at The Globe, a multi-purpose venue that will play host to what promises to be a thrilling collection of bouts and performances from some of Africa’s leading boxers.

Showcasing a diverse range of the continent’s boxing talent and sanctioned by Boxing South Africa (BSA), ESPN Africa Boxing events take place on the last (or second last) Thursday of every month. The fights are broadcast live on ESPN Africa (DStv 218, Starsat 248) as well as several broadcast partners across the globe.

With five main fights per event, and two undercard bouts on each bill, ESPN Africa Boxing showcases the best of boxing talent from across the continent. In addition, at least one all-female bout is included per event in order to help grow the sport and provide aspiring young female boxers with a platform. Known for its premium broadcast production, ESPN delivers a high-quality boxing viewing experience, complete with all of the fanfare that accompanies high-stakes boxing matchups.

As one of the world’s leading sports broadcasters, ESPN brings an unparalleled portfolio of sporting content and documentaries to its viewers across the world. In Africa, the broadcaster extends this offering by showcasing European football and various other international franchises, such as the English Football League (EFL), Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), Dutch Eredivisie and Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as various African sports tournaments such as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the ESPN Africa Boxing series.

“We are extremely proud to be associated with The Walt Disney Company Africa and for being a part of the team bringing ESPN Africa Boxing to our city. The Globe is a fitting venue to host an event of this calibre and we look forward to welcoming boxers and guests to each exciting event,” says Suncoast Operations Director, Adam MacIntyre.

“With this agreement, we are excited to be collaborating with Suncoast in bringing ESPN Africa Boxing to KwaZulu-Natal, a first for the series,” said Kyle De Klerk, Director: Sports Commercial and Business, The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We especially cannot wait to hear from local audiences who watch and attend these three events, knowing the immense popularity of the sport in the province.”

For updates regarding ESPN Africa Boxing and other sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit https://www.espn.com/. 

 

KOODOO.co.za Announced As Official Sponsor Of The ESPN Africa Boxing Series

The Walt Disney Company Africa and KOODOO.co.za today announced that they have entered into a multi-event sponsorship for the ESPN Africa Boxing series. The agreement officially kicks off with the ESPN Africa Boxing 21 event that will take place in Johannesburg on 22 September 2022.

Showcasing a diverse range of the continent’s best boxing talent and sanctioned by Boxing South Africa (BSA), ESPN Africa Boxing events take place on a monthly basis on Thursday evenings. With five main fights per event, and two undercard bouts on each bill, ESPN Africa Boxing features male and female boxing talent from across Africa. The September event is the 21st iteration of the series.

The fights are broadcast live on ESPN Africa (DStv 218, Starsat 248) catering to the immense popularity of the sport on the continent, as well as on several broadcast partners across the globe. ESPN delivers a high-quality boxing viewing experience with premium broadcast production, accompanied by all of the fanfare behind the scenes.

A division of Gamefinity, KOODOO.co.za is an e-commerce channel with the core focus of bringing the world’s leading gaming entertainment content and products to customers. The company represents brands in the gaming entertainment space such as PlayStation, Warner Bros Gaming, Bethesda, Konami, Techland, Milestone, Capcom, SEGA, andNacon.

“Exciting times for us at KOODOO.co.za partnering with The Walt Disney Company Africa and ESPN Africa Boxing Series to bring another dimension of our business to our customers.” comments Nalisha Pillay, General Manager for KOODOO.co.za

“We are delighted to welcome KOODOO.co.za as an official sponsor of the ESPN Africa Boxing series,” said Kyle De Klerk, Director: Sports Commercial and Business, The Walt Disney Company Africa. “As boxing is one of the most celebrated and followed sports, we are excited to be collaborating with this premiere technology company to further elevate our ESPN Africa Boxing series’ presence in reaching more viewers and in-person audiences across the country.

As one of the world’s leading sports broadcasters, ESPN brings an unparalleled portfolio of sporting content and documentaries to its viewers across the world. In Africa, the broadcaster extends this offering by showcasing European football and various other international franchises, such as the English Football League (EFL), Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), Dutch Eredivisie and Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as various African sports tournaments such as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the ESPN Africa Boxing series.

 

ESPN Africa And PLAY.CO.ZA Sign Multi-Event Sponsorship

The Walt Disney Company Africa and Play.co.za today announced that they have entered into a multi-event sponsorship for the popular ESPN Africa Boxing series. The agreement officially kicks off with the ESPN Africa Boxing 21 event that will take place in Johannesburg on 22 September 2022.

Showcasing a diverse range of the continent’s best boxing talent and sanctioned by Boxing South Africa (BSA), ESPN Africa Boxing events take place on a monthly basis on Thursday evenings. With five main fights per event, and two undercard bouts on each bill, ESPN Africa Boxing features male and female boxing talent from across Africa. The September event is the 21st iteration of the series.

The fights are broadcast live on ESPN Africa (DStv 218, Starsat 248) catering to the immense popularity of the sport on the continent, as well as on several broadcast partners across the globe. ESPN delivers a high-quality boxing viewing experience with premium broadcast production, accompanied by all of the fanfare behind the scenes.

Play.co.za enters the market this September as an innovative new gaming and betting platform, offering fans eSports, Live Dealer Games, Lucky Numbers, and Betgames. Additional offerings include promotional bonuses for partaking in major tournaments and loyalty incentives for playful fans.

“As a playful and community-driven brand looking to disrupt the local gaming market, our goal is to form strategic partnerships with right-fit organisations that not only resonate with our audience, but that share our values as a premium online entertainment platform. We look forward to collaborating with a prestigious tournament such as ESPN Africa Boxing in showcasing our continent’s talent and building relationships with avid boxing fans,” says JP van der Spuy, Founder and CEO, Play.co.za.

“ESPN is known for bringing the most exciting sporting moments to sports fans across the continent and ESPN Africa Boxing is just one prime example,” said Kyle De Klerk, Director: Sports Commercial and Business, The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Play.co.za on this popular and exciting franchise.”

As one of the world’s leading sports broadcasters, ESPN brings an unparalleled portfolio of sporting content and documentaries to its viewers across the world. In Africa, the broadcaster extends this offering by showcasing European football and various other international franchises, such as the English Football League (EFL), Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), Dutch Eredivisie and Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as various African sports tournaments such as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the ESPN Africa Boxing series.

 

National Football League (NFL) 2022 Season Gets Underway On ESPN Africa

Excitement is mounting as the 103rd season of National Football League (NFL) season is about to get underway in the United States. The new season premieres on ESPN2 (DStv 219, Starsat 249) across Africa when play begins on 9 September 2022 with 32 teams vying for Super Bowl glory and a shot at lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Current defending Champions the Los Angeles Rams will host Buffalo Bills in the kick-off game in the early hours of the morning on Friday 9 September. This match will air live on ESPN2 at 2:20 AM (CAT) with repeat broadcasts at  08:00 on ESPN2, 13:30 on ESPN and 18:00 on ESPN2.

ESPN Africa will bring American Football fans a minimum of five matches every week during the regular season, with one match airing live in the early hours of Friday (“Thursday Night Football”), three matches every Sunday evening and one match in the early hours of Tuesday morning (“Monday Night Football”). Additionally, ESPN2 will now feature a weekday American Football slot with NFL games from Mondays to Fridays at 14:00.

The regular season will continue for of 18 weeks. Thereafter, the playoffs, that are scheduled to start on 14 January 2023, will build up to the much-anticipated Super Bowl LVII event at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on 13 February 2023.

The Buffalo Bills are one of the favourites predicted to go all the way this year, coming off last season's heart-breaking overtime defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round. The ascension of quarterback Josh Allen combined with the offseason signing of Von Miller may just be the edge that this team needs to reclaim victory.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterbacked by Tom Brady at 45 years of age, are also among the teams to keep an eye on this season, while Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be no easy challenge.

There will be new breakout stars to watch throughout the course of the season. April’s 2022 NFL draft saw the Jacksonsville Jaguars select defensive end Travon Walker in the first pick. Aiden Hutchinson was selected by Detroit Lions in the second pick. 

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) debate will start early with a trio of stars expected to contend for the coveted prize. Quarterbacks Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes are tipped as early frontrunners while Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who has held this award for past two seasons, will not want to see it go.

After two seasons of using the placeholder name Washington Football Team, the franchise have officially been renamed and will enter the field as the Washington Commanders.

ESPN Africa is the home of American sports and will bring all of the thrills, spills and hard hitting football action from North America to fans across Africa. An incredible season of NFL football awaits.

ENDS

How to tune in:
ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248
ESPN2: DStv 219, Starsat 249

For updates from the world of American and other sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit https://www.espn.com/.

# # #

Notes to editors:

NFL Fixtures - Round 1 (live on ESPN2)
09-09-21 2:20    Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams            
11-09-21 19:00  Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions           
11-09-21 22:25  Kansas City Chiefs @ Arizona Cardinals             
12-09-21 2:20    Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys      
13-09-21 2:15    Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks

“Rise” To Premiere On ESPN Africa This August

ESPN Africa today announced that the Disney+ original film Rise, will have its linear premiere across the continent on ESPN (DStv 218, Starsat 248) on Monday 1 August at 20:00. Directed by Akin Omotoso, Rise is based on the triumphant true-life story of the remarkable family that produced the first trio of brothers to become NBA champions in the history of the league - Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and former Los Angeles Laker Kostas Antetokounmpo.

In this powerful, uplifting film, viewers will witness how one family’s vision, determination and faith lifted them out of obscurity to launch the career of two-time MVP Giannis and his brothers, Thanasis and Kostas. Last season, Giannis and Thanasis helped bring the Bucks their first NBA championship ring in 50 years, while Kostas played for the previous season champs, the Lakers.

 

After immigrating to Greece from Nigeria, Vera and Charles Antetokounmpo struggled to survive and provide for their five children, while living under the daily threat of deportation. With their oldest son still in Nigeria with relatives, the couple were desperate to obtain Greek citizenship but found themselves undermined by a system that blocked them at every turn. When they weren’t selling items to tourists on the streets of Athens with the rest of the family, the brothers would play basketball with a local youth team. Latecomers to the sport, they discovered their great abilities on the basketball court and worked hard to become world-class athletes. With the help of an agent, Giannis entered the NBA Draft in 2013 in a long-shot prospect that would change not only his life but the lives of his entire family.

Newcomers Uche Agada and Ral Agada - also real-life brothers - portray young Giannis and Thanasis, with Jaden Osimuwa and Elijah Sholanke as their younger two brothers, Kostas and Alexandros (“Alex”), respectively. Dayo Okeniyi (“Emperor,” “Shades of Blue”) and Yetide Badaki (“American Gods,” “This Is Us”) play their parents, Charles and Veronica (“Vera”), with Manish Dayal as Giannis’ tenacious agent, Kevin Stefanides, and Taylor Nichols as John Hammond, general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Rise is directed by Akin Omotoso (“Vaya”) and written by Arash Amel (“A Private War”), with Bernie Goldmann (“300”) producing and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Douglas S. Jones as executive producers. Co-producers are Andreas Dimitriou and Michael Foutras.

Broadcast slots
Premiere:
Monday 1 August at 20:00
Repeat broadcasts:
Tuesday 2 August at 10:45 and 18:00
Monday 8 August at 20:00
Tuesday 9 August 10:45 and 18:00

How to tune in:

ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248 
 
All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
Schedule subject to change

ESPN Africa Boxing 18 Set To Entertain

Boxing fans across Africa can look forward to some of the best combat sport action when ESPN Africa Boxing 18 takes place in Johannesburg and broadcasts live on ESPN on Thursday 30 June 2022, from 19:00 (CAT). Sanctioned by Boxing South Africa (BSA) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF), this event will be headlined by a 12-round match for the IBF International Junior Middleweight title between DR Congo's Emmany Kalombo (15-1-0) and Kenyan Rayton Okwiri (7-0-1).

Known as 'The General', Kalombo was last in action in April, defeating Malawian Chikondi Makawa via third-round technical knockout in Soweto, while the unbeaten Okwiri is making a much-anticipated return to the ring. In his most recent fight, in October 2021, Okwiri knocked out John Serunjogu of Uganda in a middleweight non-title fight in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

 

 

The former African Boxing Union middleweight title holder is determined to put a major belt around his waist once again. “I have done it in the past and it’ll not be any different this time round. This is a big fight for me and the title must come back home as I’m serious to win it,” Okwiri explained.

Kalombo, however, feels that things will go differently: “I have known Okwiri as an amateur boxer for a long time and I’m gonna chop him down and stop him from taking the title."

The co-main event is a 10-round Welterweight clash between South Africa's Thulani Mbenge (18-1-0) and Idd Pialari of Tanzania (30-7-1). Mbenge was last in action a year ago, claiming an impressive third-round knockout win over Jabulani Makhense. Pialari broke a losing streak by defeating Chimwemwe Chiotcha via unanimous decision in February this year.

 

 

The main card also features an eight-round Super Flyweight clash between Sikho Nqothole (14-2-0) and Selemani Bangaiza (12-7-0); Jabulani Makhense (12-1-0) v Paul Kamanga (23-2-0) over eight rounds in the Welterweight division; and a Super Lightweight battle over eight rounds between Gift Bholo (9-11-0) and Hannock Phiri (14-0-1).

The fight card for this event, is as follows:

MAIN EVENT

Main event: IBF International Junior Middleweight Title
12 rounds
Emmany Kalombo (DR Congo, 15-1-0)
v
Rayton Okwiri (Kenya, 7-0-1)

Co-main event: Welterweight
10 rounds
Thulani Mbenge (SA, 18-1-0)
v
Idd Pialari (Tanzania, 30-7-1)

Super Flyweight
8 rounds
Sikho Nqothole (SA, 14-2-0)
v
Selemani Bangaiza (Tanzania, 12-7-0)

Welterweight
8 rounds
Jabulani Makhense (SA, 12-1-0)
v
Paul Kamanga (DR Congo, 23-2-0)

Super Lightweight
8 rounds
Gift Bholo (SA, 9-11-0)
v
Hannock Phiri (Malawi, 14-0-1)

UNDER CARD

Junior Middleweight
4 rounds
Sinethemba Blom (debut)
v
Mikaeel van Doorsen (1-1-0)

Junior Lightweight
6 rounds
Cayden Truter (4-0-0)
v
Khanyisani Mbokazi (2-3-1)

 

Featuring a diverse range of the continent’s boxing talent, the ESPN Africa Boxing events that take place on the last (or second last) Thursday of every month, are televised to an audience of up to 60 million homes across Africa and Latin America. The action starts at 19:00 (CAT) on ESPN (DStv 218, Starsat 248), SABC Sport and selected international broadcasters including ESPN across Latin America, as well as a highlights package in TKO (SABC 2, Fridays at 21:30).

How to tune in:

ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248 
SABC Sport
 
All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
Schedule subject to change

For updates regarding ESPN Africa Boxing and other sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit https://www.espn.com/.