Mixed martial arts "is coming" to the Middle East and North Africa. Middle East pay-TV operator OSN has reportedly agreed to a multi-year deal with the UFC that will grant it "exclusive rights to the promotion" in both North Africa and the Middle East. The new partnership will also see the launch of the promotion's digital subscription service, UFC Fight Pass. The platform will give the new subscribers access to the UFC fight library as well as a "selection of live events." The "inking" of this deal marks the first major signing since the UFC was purchased by WME-IMG in July for a reported $4B (FOX SPORTS, 1/26).
German telecom Deutsche Telekom "acquired the exclusive pay-TV rights for all games of the third-division Bundesliga and women's Bundesliga" from the German FA (DFB). The agreement "of which financial details have not been disclosed comprises the global live and highlights rights" covering four seasons of the 3rd league from '18-19 and five seasons of the women's league from '17-18, including the option for a one-year extension in both cases (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 1/26).
Every game at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England will be broadcast live on the BBC. At least 16 of the 31 matches will be shown on BBC One or BBC Two, with the remaining fixtures available on Red Button and online. The BBC is also set to broadcast this year's tournament in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (BBC).
Econet Media has been "granted the rights for the purchase" of Wava Broadcasting Station by the Uganda Communications Commission and the Uganda Broadcasting Council and "the company will soon be rebranded to Kwesé Free Sports" for a 24/7 delivery of Kwesé sports content. The WBS was owned by Ugandan entrepreneur Gordon Wavamunno and the company was placed under receivership by the Uganda Revenue Authority due to $2M in unpaid taxes. WBS required a "capital injection" of at least $566,881 to "turn it around" (CIO EAST AFRICA, 1/26).
