SuperSport tightens grip on Africa

05 February 2009 - 02:00
By unknown

South African-based broadcaster SuperSport has taken over the rights to show live English Premier League matches from GTV, which went into liquidation last week.

South African-based broadcaster SuperSport has taken over the rights to show live English Premier League matches from GTV, which went into liquidation last week.

After days of uncertainty for football fans across the continent, SuperSport stepped in to secure the licence to broadcast the Premier League live in the African markets previously controlled by GTV. Gateway Broadcast Services supplied programmes under the GTV banner to countries from Kenya to Botswana.

Tens of thousands of subscribers in those markets were unable to watch live coverage of English top flight football last weekend, after GTV went out of business, citing the current financial global crisis.

SuperSport will now control exclusive rights in those countries previously supplied by GTV for the remainder of the 2008-2009 season and for the whole of next season. Live coverage will be restored from this weekend. - BBC