MLS & FOX Sports Extend Partnership to Cover Sub-Saharan Africa

NEW YORK: Major League Soccer (MLS) and FOX Sports have expanded their broadcast partnership to bring live televised league matches to Sub-Saharan Africa.

The deal will see FOX Sports Africa broadcast live MLS matches during the 2015-18 seasons in 25 countries and territories across Africa. This 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 and the MLS Cup. In addition, FOX Sports Africa will carry highlights, player features and other MLS content across its digital platforms.

With the addition of Sub-Saharan Africa, the FOX Sports partnership now extends beyond the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. FOX Sports Africa joins Abu Dhabi Media, which broadcasts to North Africa, as the exclusive MLS broadcast partners on the African continent.

“FOX Sports continues to be an excellent partner, committed to helping grow Major League Soccer around the world,” said Gary Stevenson, the president and managing director for MLS Business Ventures. “Through our latest agreement, we are able to meet the demand of our fans by showcasing our league in yet another vibrant soccer market. 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. We’re very excited that this partnership will allow these talented players to be highlighted every week in their home countries, as well as in nearly 140 countries around the world through our many broadcast partnerships.”

Adam Theiler, the executive VP of FOX International Channels for the U.K., Nordic, Southern Europe and Africa, added, “FOX Sports is the natural home of MLS in Sub-Saharan Africa where FOX has made a commitment to both our platform partners and our loyal viewers to deliver locally appealing sports franchises. The world class professionals in the American league, including many from the best footballing nations in Africa, will have a platform on FOX Sports to stay connected to an increasing global fan base. I am thrilled to extend the FOX Sports partnership with MLS.”