2024-01-11 23:04:37
In 2022, more than 400 million viewers followed the CAN on television. Being able to broadcast matches is a major challenge. This is why broadcasting rights are strategic. They amount to several million euros. On the market, historic groups like Canal+ but also new players are coming to compete.
Canal+ obtained the paid rights in French in 2017. If the amount is a business secret, David Mignot, general manager of Canal+ Africa, discusses the acquisition process. “ When CAF sold its rights for a very long time with a very good contract, we took the CAN rights at that time. It was already several years ago. We therefore secured income and exposure to the CAN. We got them in conditions that are correct. »
A contract which comes to an end this year. And this in a context where competition is getting tougher and tougher. “ This situation, competition on rights purchases, is natural, it is part of the market and therefore we live with it very well. », assures David Mignot. “ We are used to managing it. So, we are not at all worried about this new market situation as long as the economics that are proposed remain rational. »
New actors enter the dance
In the battle for the acquisition of rights, a young actor is making more and more room for himself. This is the Togolese group New World TV.
« The paid rights, we have acquired these rights for the English language and local languages [ainsi que] “free to air” rights, therefore for unencrypted broadcasting », Explains Louis Biyao, the lawyer and spokesperson for New World TV. “ These rights concern all languages, including French, English, Portuguese, Spanish and local languages. These rights must be resold to local channels distributing unencrypted. And in this context, New World TV serves as an agency for the CAF to redistribute in all these countries and reach the maximum audience. I confirm that in each country there are several channels which broadcast free of charge and which aim to have the rights and we choose the best offers. »
Increasingly tough competition for national channels
And for national channels, there too the competition is increasingly tough. This is the case in Senegal for example. “ The novelty in the ecosystem of retransmission rights is that for several years, we have been in an open market », Describes Oumar Guebane, special advisor on sports rights at RTS. “ We also have private broadcasters, who previously were not present, but who are today, who bid and participate. »
In this context, how does RTS manage to win the market? Oumar Guebane has his idea: “ By his experience already. Since 1972, we have been acquiring rights to sporting events. But beyond the experience, there is also the fact that the RTS gets there early. There is also the address book. You also need to know and have very good relationships with the rights traders. »
And for the first time this year, private televisions will broadcast the CAN: this is the case of Canal 2 in Cameroon or the Nouvelle Chaine Ivoirienne.
Read alsoCAN 2024 calendar and results
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