ESPN Africa is an African pay television sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (which owns a controlling 80% stake) and the Hearst Communications (which owns the remaining 20%), that was re-branded in August 2014, replacing Setanta Sports and Setanta Action. The channel broadcasts in Sub-Saharan Africa in English and French. It was also previously available for a brief period in 2016 in Portuguese.

ESPN Africa
Broadcast areaSub-Saharan Africa
NetworkESPN
Programming
Language(s)English
French
Ownership
OwnerESPN Inc.
(The Walt Disney Company 80%, Hearst Communications 20%)
Sister channelsFox (closed)
Fox Life (closed)
National Geographic Channel
Nat Geo Wild
Disney Channel
Disney Junior
History
Launched1 August 2014; 10 years ago (1 August 2014)
ReplacedSetanta Africa
Setanta Action
Former namesFox Sports Africa
(2014–2019)
Links
Websiteafrica.espn.com
Availability
Terrestrial
GOtvChannel 37
DStvChannel 218
Channel 219 (ESPN2)
Zuku TVChannel 320
Channel 321 (ESPN2)
StarTimesChannel 248
Channel 249 (ESPN2)
AzamTVChannel 120
Channel 121 (ESPN2)

Its programming mainly features football from Eredivisie, Scottish Premiership, Belgian Pro League and English Football League. The network was also a long-standing broadcaster of the South American competitions Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana across Africa until the rights moved in 2017.[citation needed]

Also broadcasts: NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA, PFL, NRL rugby league and Basketball Africa League.

Previously, as the Irish-owned Setanta Africa, the channel broadcast GAA hurling and gaelic football, plus League of Ireland football.

In August 2019, it was announced that the network would rebrand as ESPN Africa on 30 August 2019, due to the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Walt Disney Company Africa to rebranding FOX Sports channels in Africa". Alberton Record. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
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