Major League Soccer announced on Thursday that it has partnered with leading global pay-television broadcaster FOX Sports in Africa to televise league matches live across Sub-Saharan Africa.
With this partnership, the league's eighth international broadcast deal, MLS will be distributed to nearly 140 countries and territories around the world.
FOX Sports Africa will broadcast live MLS matches during the 2015-2018 seasons in 25 countries and territories across Africa, includes at least two live MLS regular-season matches per week; the AT&T MLS All-Star Game; the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoff games, which continue this Sunday, and the MLS Cup. FOX Sports Africa will also carry highlights, player features and other MLS content across its digital platforms.
“We are excited to expand our FOX Sports partnership to include Sub-Saharan Africa. This agreement will showcase our league to many new MLS fans across the continent,” said Gary Stevenson, President and Managing Director, MLS Business Ventures, in a statement.
“MLS is proud to be the home of top international stars, including many from Africa, such as Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba, Sierra Leone’s Kei Kamara and Nigeria’s Obafemi Martins. This partnership will allow these talented players to be highlighted every week in their home countries, as well as in nearly 170 countries around the world though our many broadcast partnerships.”
FOX Sports Africa joins Abu Dhabi Media, which broadcasts to North Africa, as the exclusive MLS broadcast partners on the African continent.
The FOX Sports Africa partnership joins broadcast agreements signed throughout this year as part of MLS’ continued focus to bring the league to more fans around the world and grow as a global media property.
MLS international broadcast partners include Sky Sports in the UK, pan-European broadcaster Eurosport, Globosat in Brazil, Abu Dhabi Media in the Middle East and North Africa, Letv Sports in mainland China, beIN SPORTS across Southeast Asia and Australia, FOX Sports Latin America and FOX Sports Africa, together with ESPN for select games across their international platforms.
