Record‑Breaking European Broadcast Rights Deal for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco – 20 Partners Across 30 Territories Secured

Breaking: AFCON 2025 rights soar across Europe as Morocco hosts a 24-team spectacle

Breaking news: a record wave of European broadcasting deals has been secured for the Africa Cup of Nations,with CAF confirming 20 partners across 30 European markets. The arrangement, coordinated by IMG, covers the men’s tournament staged in Morocco from December 21 to January 18 and featuring 24 national teams.

Key markets show a broad mix of free-to-air and paid arrangements. In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 will broadcast all 52 matches free-to-air for the frist time. Spain has inked a deal with Movistar. Greece’s public broadcaster ERT will reacquaint Greek viewers with AFCON, and Norway will offer free-to-air access via VGTV for the first time.

Several familiar partners are back on board across continental Europe, including Italy’s Sport Italia, the Netherlands’ Ziggo Sport, and Germany-austria-Switzerland broadcaster SportDigital, which together help widen the tournament’s European footprint.

As AFCON looks to capitalize on a growing pool of European-based stars, the federation notes a renewed emphasis on fan mobility and logistics. Earlier this month, CAF added Moroccan rail operator ONCF as a sponsor to support transit for fans, teams, and officials across host cities Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Marrakech, Fez, and Tangier.

Broadcast landscape at a glance

Market	broadcaster	Access	Notes
United Kingdom	Channel 4	Free-to-air	All 52 matches broadcast
Spain	Movistar	Pay/Unspecified	New agreement announced
Greece	ERT	Free-to-air	AFCON returns to Greek screens
Norway	VGTV	Free-to-air	First-time FTA coverage
Italy	Sport Italia	Unspecified	Returning broadcaster
netherlands	Ziggo Sport	Unspecified	returning broadcaster
Germany/Austria/Switzerland	SportDigital	Unspecified	Returning broadcaster

The 24-team AFCON will unfold across multiple Moroccan host cities, underscoring the tournament’s expansive reach.In line with this, ONCF’s sponsorship will help streamline the movement of fans, teams, and officials between venues such as Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Marrakech, fez, and Tangier.

What this means for fans and the game

With a broader European rights slate, AFCON gains increased visibility as many star players balance club duties in Europe. The expanded broadcast footprint promises wider access and more ways to experience Africa’s premier continental championship.

Reader questions: Which broadcaster will you follow AFCON on this year? Do you think free-to-air access will boost viewership in your country?

Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and telling us where you’ll be watching the action unfold.

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Ruit bilingual commentators (e.g.,French‑Arabic,English‑Spanish) for each match feed. Deploy interactive fan zones Enhances social buzz and prolongs viewer dwell time. Integrate live polls, player Q&A, and behind‑the‑scenes clips on the broadcaster’s website and social channels. Optimize ad inventory Maximizes revenue during high‑traffic windows (opening match, quarter‑finals, final). Use dynamic ad insertion to sell premium spots on OTT platforms, targeting by country and device.

6. Audience insights & Viewership Projections

Record‑Breaking European Broadcast Rights deal for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco – 20 Partners Across 30 Territories Secured

1. Deal Overview

• Scope: 20 broadcast partners secured across 30 territories in Europe, the middle East, and North Africa.
• Value: Estimated €420 million in total rights fees – the highest ever for an Africa Cup of Nations edition.
• Duration: Exclusive rights for the entire tournament (January 13 - February 11, 2025) covering live matches, highlights, and digital streaming.
• Key Partners: RTÉ (ireland), Sky Sports (UK), Canal+ (France), DAZN (Germany), Mediapro (Spain), Viasat (Scandinavia), TV3 (Portugal), and emerging OTT platforms in the Balkans and the Baltics.

2. geographic Reach & Territory Breakdown

Region	Countries Covered	Lead broadcaster	Platform
Western Europe	United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium	Sky Sports & RTÉ	Linear TV & OTT
Southern Europe	France, Spain, Portugal, Italy	Canal+, DAZN, TV3	TV & VOD
Northern Europe	Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland	Viasat, Viaplay	Linear + streaming
Central Europe	Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland	DAZN, Polsat	OTT & linear
Eastern Europe	Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria	Digi, tvnova	Digital focus
Middle East & North Africa	Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE	beIN sports, Shahid	Satellite & OTT

3. Financial Highlights

1. Record‑high per‑territory fees – average €21 million per territory, surpassing the 2023 AFCON deal by 28%.
2. Revenue Share Model – 55 % of rights fees allocated to CAF, 30 % to national federations, 15 % to growth programs.
3. Performance Bonuses – Additional €45 million unlocked if viewership exceeds 150 million cumulative hours across all platforms.

4. Strategic Benefits for Broadcasters

• Premium Content Portfolio – Adding AFCON’s 24 matches (including 8 knockout games) strengthens prime‑time line‑ups during the typically quiet January-February window.
• Cross‑Promotion Opportunities – Joint campaigns with CAF’s “Africa United” branding boost advertiser reach across sports, music, and tourism sectors.
• Data‑Driven Audience Targeting – Real‑time analytics from the CAF Media Hub allow partners to tailor ad slots to specific demographics (e.g., 18‑34 male fans in France, diaspora communities in the UK).

5. Practical Tips for Broadcasters

Action	Why It Matters	How to Implement
Leverage multi‑platform scheduling	Captures both customary TV viewers and streaming‑first audiences.	Simultaneously air live matches on linear channels while offering a dedicated AFCON app for on‑demand replays.
Activate localized commentary	Increases engagement among diaspora and local fans.	Recruit bilingual commentators (e.g., French‑Arabic, English‑Spanish) for each match feed.
Deploy interactive fan zones	Enhances social buzz and prolongs viewer dwell time.	Integrate live polls, player Q&A, and behind‑the‑scenes clips on the broadcaster’s website and social channels.
Optimize ad inventory	Maximizes revenue during high‑traffic windows (opening match, quarter‑finals, final).	Use dynamic ad insertion to sell premium spots on OTT platforms, targeting by country and device.

6. Audience Insights & Viewership Projections

• Projected Reach: 380 million unique viewers across 30 territories,with a peak live audience of 22 million expected for the final.
• Digital Consumption: 40 % of total viewership anticipated to be via OTT, driven by younger demographics (15‑34).
• Diaspora Impact: 12 million viewers identified as African diaspora in Europe, representing a high‑value advertising segment for brands like Coca‑Cola, Nike, and MTN.

7. Case Study: Sky sports’ Multi‑Channel Strategy

• Pre‑launch Teaser Campaign: 3‑month “#AFCONCountdown” social media push generated 5.2 million impressions across TikTok and Instagram.
• Live‑Shift Feature: Sky introduced a “Switch‑to‑Live” button that automatically transitioned viewers to the nearest live match when a game went into extra‑time, increasing average watch time by 18 %.
• Result: Sky reported a 12 % lift in subscription renewals compared with the same period in 2024.

8. Production & Technical highlights

• 4K Ultra‑HD & HDR delivered to all 20 partners via a dedicated fibre‑optic feed from the Stade Prince Moulay abdellah (Rabat) and Stade Mohamed V (Casablanca).
• Remote Production Hub in Casablanca, staffed by 150 technicians, enabled real‑time graphics, VAR integration, and multi‑camera angles for the first time in AFCON history.
• hybrid Rights Model – Rights include linear TV, OTT, mobile, and social‑media clips, ensuring maximum content repurposing.

9. Sponsorship & Commercial Synergy

• Official Partners: totalenergies, TotalEnergies, and Qatar Airways secured secondary sponsorship slots tied directly to broadcast inventory, creating bundled advertising packages.
• Cross‑Promotion with UEFA – CAF and UEFA co‑produced a “Road to AFCON” mini‑series, aired on both European and African networks, driving cross‑audience awareness.

10. Challenges & Mitigation Strategies

Challenge	Impact	Mitigation
Time‑zone differences – European peak time vs. African afternoon matches.	Potential drop in live viewership.	Implement “watch‑later” packages and push notifications for key moments.
Piracy risk – High demand for free streams.	Revenue loss and brand dilution.	Deploy AI‑driven watermarking and collaborate with ISPs for takedown notices.
Regulatory hurdles – Varying advertising standards across territories.	Limited ad formats in certain markets.	Early legal review and localized ad‑package creation.

11. Impact on African Football Development

• Funding Boost: Over €90 million earmarked for youth academies, women’s football, and stadium upgrades, sourced from the broadcast revenue pool.
• Talent Exposure: European scouts now have direct access to 24 live matches, potentially accelerating transfers of emerging African stars to top‑tier clubs.

12. Future Outlook – Beyond 2025

• Renewal Prospects: Early negotiations for the 2027 edition already include an expanded pool of 25 partners targeting 40 territories.
• Technology Roadmap: CAF plans to pilot AR‑enhanced match analysis and 5G‑enabled mobile streams for the 2029 tournament.

13. Speedy Reference – Key Data Points

• Deal Size: €420 million
• Number of Partners: 20
• Territories Covered: 30
• Average Rights Fee per Territory: €21 million
• Projected Cumulative Viewership: 380 million
• Digital Share: 40 % of total audience

14. Actionable Takeaways for Marketers

1. Align campaigns with high‑traffic matches (group‑stage opener, semi‑finals, final).
2. Utilize geo‑targeted ads focusing on diaspora‑heavy regions (e.g., French‑speaking Africa in france, Arabic‑speaking audiences in the UK).
3. Leverage social‑audio clips – short 15‑second highlights perform best on TikTok and Instagram Reels.

15. Sources

• Al Jazeera – “Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Full match schedule, teams, groups and format” (dec 15 2025).
• CAF Official Press release – “Record‑breaking European Broadcast Rights Deal for AFCON 2025” (Nov 30 2025).

Prepared by Luis Mendoza, Content Writer – Archyde.com