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Kwesé Sports

Kwesé Sports (Shona: [kwese]) was a sport website serving Sub-Saharan Africa operated by Econet Media, a subsidiary of Econet Wireless. Kwesé Sports was launched on 4 December 2015 with the announcement made by Econet Wireless founder Strive Masiyiwa, on the social networking site Facebook.[3][4]

History

Strive Masiyiwa, founder and Group Chairman of Econet Wireless made an announcement on 4 December 2015 through his Facebook page of a new pay TV service named Kwesé TV and Kwesé Sports, a website which was live, showing sport news and offering free live streaming of the Copa del Rey football matches (exclude final). The name "Kwesé" was derived from the Shona word kwese which means "everywhere" and "anywhere".[2][3] Kwesé TV officially launched operations on 30 January 2017.[5]

In August 2019, Econet Media announced the Kwesé TVs (including Sports) was closed effective from 5 August due to crisis and replaced by ESPN Africa on 30 August.[6]

Past rights

Association football

On 17 March 2016, the English Premier League announced that Econet Media acquired free to air broadcasting rights in Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons, from 2016/17 to 2018/19 season. Econet Media via Kwesé Sports will air the matches, weekly previews and highlights programs.[7][8] Richard Scudamore, Executive Chairman of the Premier League, said "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."[9][10]

Basketball

On 21 April 2016, the NBA and Kwesé Sports owner, Econet Media, announced a multi-year partnership deal in which Econet becomes the official broadcaster of the NBA in Sub-Saharan Africa starting with the 2016–17 season.[11][12][13] Econet Media will distribute NBA content in English, French and Portuguese across Sub-Saharan Africa on its internet-, mobile- and satellite-based platforms as well as pay TV platforms and free to air coverage.[14][15][16][17]

Mixed martial arts

Kwesé Sports acquired exclusive rights to screen the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) across Sub-Saharan Africa with the exception of South Africa, which it acquired non-exclusive rights, for three years.[18] Screening commenced on 5 March 2016 with Kwesé Sports offering free live streaming of the EFC 47 event which was held at Carnival City in Johannesburg, South Africa.[19] EFC President Cairo Howarth stated "We believe that Kwesé Sports represents the future of sports broadcasting on the continent and will open many new opportunities to new and existing EFC fans to enjoy quality EFC programming."[20][21]

FIFA Confederations Cup and FIFA World Cup

Kwesé Sports secured exclusive free-to-air (FTA) rights to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017. The rights are for sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa. Kwesé will broadcast the tournaments live through its pan-African FTA channel Kwesé Free Sports (KFS). According to the agreement, Kwesé is the only platform on the continent licensed to broadcast live action of these events free.[22]

Cricket

References

  1. ^ "Econet Wireless Companies - Mobile Telecommunications, Broadband, Internet, Ecommerce, Renewable Energy, Satellite and Fibre..." Econet Wireless. Econet Wireless. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b Gambanga, Nigel (4 December 2015). "Strive Masiyiwa announces Kwesé TV, Econet's DStv rival". Techzim. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b David M (4 December 2015). "Strive Masiyiwa to launch pay Sports TV Channel". Soccer24. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Econet set to launch pay TV". The Herald. Zimpapers. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  5. ^ "New Satellite Network Kwese TV Begins to Broadcast in Africa". Via Satellite. February 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Kwese TV Switches Off After Econet Media Shuts Down". Business Today Kenya. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Premier League International Rights TV Deals Econet Sub-Saharan Africa 2016-19". Premier League. Premier League. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  8. ^ Dudley, George (17 March 2016). "Kwesé Sports awarded Premier League rights". SportsPro. SportsPro Media. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Econet clinches EPL deal". Zimbabwe Independent. Alpha Media Holdings. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Econet acquires English Premiership rights". Daily News. Associated Newspapers Group. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  11. ^ Gambanga, Nigel (21 April 2016). "Econet Media replaces SuperSport to become NBA's official broadcast partner in Africa". Techzim. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Econet to replace SuperSport as NBA partner in sub-Saharan Africa". SportBusiness Group. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  13. ^ Masiyiwa, Strive (21 April 2016). "Pause: "Compete with Intensity, Lead with Integrity, and Inspire Play" – NBA". Econet Wireless. Econet Wireless. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  14. ^ "NBA and Econet Media announce groundbreaking partnership for coverage in Africa". NBA Communications. NBA Media Ventures. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  15. ^ Flynn, Kerry (21 April 2016). "In Africa, NBA Will Broadcast More Than 500 Games On TV, Broadband And Mobile Next Season Through Econet Partnership". International Business Times. IBT Media. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  16. ^ Nelson, Adam (21 April 2016). "NBA announces Econet deal". SportsPro. SportsPro Media. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  17. ^ Imray, Gerald (21 April 2016). "The NBA makes new play in Africa in pursuit of fans". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Kwesé Sports wins rights to screen EFC". Sport24. 24.com. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  19. ^ "KWESE SPORTS WINS EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO SCREEN EFC!". EFC. EFC. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  20. ^ "Kwese Sports secures EFC rights". Sport Industry Group. Sport Industry Group. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  21. ^ "Kwesé Sports wins EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS to screen EFC!". Kwesé Sports. Econet Media. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  22. ^ Kwesé TV gets FTA rights to 2018 World Cup, Confederations Cup 2017 for Africa | aptantech

External links