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| Broadcast area | Sub-Saharan Africa |
|---|---|
| Network | ESPN |
| Programming | |
| Languages | English French Portuguese |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | ESPN Inc. (The Walt Disney Company 80%,Hearst Communications 20%) |
| Sister channels | Fox (closed) Fox Life (closed) National Geographic Channel Nat Geo Wild Disney Channel Disney Junior |
| History | |
| Launched | 2008; 17 years ago (2008) |
| Former names | Setanta Sports Africa (2008-2014) Fox Sports Africa (2014–2019) |
| Links | |
| Website | africa.espn.com |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| GOtv | Channel 37 |
| DStv | Channel 218 Channel 219 (ESPN2) |
| Zuku TV | Channel 712 Channel 713 (ESPN2) |
| StarTimes | Channel 248 Channel 249 (ESPN2) |
| Azam TV | Channel 120 Channel 121 (ESPN2) |
| ZAP | Channel 31 Channel 32 (ESPN2) |
ESPN Africa (on-air name: ESPN) is anAfricanpay television sports channel owned byESPN Inc., ajoint venture betweenThe Walt Disney Company (which owns a controlling 80% stake) and theHearst Communications (which owns the remaining 20%), that was launched in 2008 like Setanta Sports and re-branded in August 2014 like Fox Sports, replacing Setanta Sports and Setanta Action. The channel broadcasts inSub-Saharan Africa in English and French. It was also previously available for a brief period in 2016 in Portuguese.
The channel traces its origins to a sports licensing company set up by South African sportscaster Barry Lambert, formerly ofTVAfrica, as LIM Africa, later renamed Setanta Africa after a deal with Setanta gave them the rights to use the brand and created a localized African channel in August 2008.[1] A second channel, Setanta Action, started in November 2012, airing other sports with particular emphasis on combat sports.[2] The channels were acquired by Fox International Channels in November 2013,[3] and in August 2014, Setanta Africa became Fox Sports and Setanta Action became Fox Sports 2.[4] On 30 August 2019, months afterDisney acquired most of 21st Century Fox's assets, the channels and website were put under the ESPN brand.[5]
Its programming mainly features football fromEredivisie,Scottish Premiership,Belgian Pro League andEnglish Football League. The network was also a long-standing broadcaster of the South American competitionsCopa Libertadores andCopa Sudamericana across Africa until the rights moved in 2017.[citation needed]
Also broadcasts:NBA,NFL,NHL,MLB,NCAA,PFL,NRL rugby league andBasketball Africa League.
Previously, as the Irish-owned Setanta Africa, the channel broadcastGAAhurling andgaelic football, plusLeague of Ireland football.
In August 2019, it was announced that the network would rebrand asESPN Africa on 30 August 2019, due to theacquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney.[6]
Source:[16]
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Owners:Walt Disney Company (80%);Hearst Communications (20%) | |||||||||||||||||||