
NEW YORK (November 18, 2015) – Major League Soccer (MLS) announced today that it has partnered with leading global pay-television broadcaster FOX Sports in Africa to televise league matches live across Sub-Saharan Africa.
With this deal, MLS is now distributed in nearly 140 countries and territories around the world. With the addition of Sub-Saharan Africa, the FOX Sports partnership extends beyond the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.
The deal, which will see FOX Sports Africa broadcast live MLS matches during the 2015-2018 seasons in 25 countries and territories across Africa, 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 MLS Cup. In addition, FOX Sports Africa will carry highlights, player features and other MLS content across its digital platforms.
- To view an infographic showcasing MLS’ African players, click here
- To watch a highlight video, click here
- To view a global map and a list of all MLS players by birthplace, please click here.
“FOX Sports continues to be an excellent partner, committed to helping grow Major League Soccer around the world,” said Gary Stevenson, President and Managing Director, 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.”
"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", says Adam Theiler, EVP of FIC UK, Nordic, Southern Europe and Africa.
FOX Sports Africa joins Abu Dhabi Media, which broadcasts to North Africa, as the exclusive MLS broadcast partners on the African continent.
The FOX Sports Africa partnership joins broadcast agreements signed throughout this year as part of MLS’ continued focus to bring the league to more fans around the world and grow as a global media property. Sky Sports in the UK, pan-European broadcaster Eurosport, Globosat in Brazil, Abu Dhabi Media in the Middle East and North Africa, Letv Sports in mainland China, beIN SPORTS across Southeast Asia and Australia, FOX Sports Latin America and FOX Sports Africa, together with ESPN for select games across their international platforms, are part of the ever-growing portfolio of MLS’ global broadcast partnerships. Domestic partnerships with ESPN, FOX, Univision, TSN and RDS provide broadcasts of MLS games throughout the United States and Canada.