Multichoice Adds ESPN To DStv Sports Offering

MultiChoice Group (MCG) and The Walt Disney Company Africa today announced that they have signed an exciting partnership, which will see a significant addition to the sports available to its customers across the continent. The agreement will result in two 24-hour ESPN channels being made available to DStv customers from 29 July, where they will be able to enjoy the very best of US sports.

Featuring every major US sport as well as European football, fans across the continent can now look forward to popular premier American leagues including the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), via ESPN & ESPN2. The channels will also feature live football from the English Football League (EFL), Scottish Premier Football League (SPFL), Dutch Eredivisie and Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as local sports including the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations and featured boxing tournaments and events.

DStv customers can look forward to the much anticipated return of the NBA from the bio-bubble from 31 July, where LeBron James and the LA Lakers renew their city rivalry with the LA Clippers and Orlando Magic take on the Brooklyn Nets. The Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season will also take prominence on ESPN, with fixtures between the Oakland Athletics and Colorado Rockies (29 July), and a stunning triple header for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees from 1-3 August.

During last month’s financial results announcement, MCG reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing the best available content to its customers. This deal allows the company to provide a larger sports offering than ever before, as the home of sports on the continent.

“As Africa’s leading video entertainment platform, we are unwavering in our commitment to ensure that we continue to find the best available content to delight our customers, both now and into the future. We endeavour to deliver both world-class international content as well as the very best in local content, giving our loyal customers a never-ending selection of outstanding entertainment,” says MultiChoice Group CEO, Calvo Mawela.

“From reliving the greatest moments in sports history to seeing those moments being made, ESPN’s compelling content and unique personality will be a complementary addition to MultiChoice Group’s sports offering,” says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We are thrilled to be bringing the achievements and triumphs of both international and local athletes, our quality storytelling and innovative programming to a whole new audience of sports fans in Africa.”

Together with the live sports programming, viewers will also be able to catch up on the very latest films, series, news, talk shows and highlights from ESPN’s iconic sports documentary and studio programming.

“In addition to being the home of American sports, ESPN is equally well-known for its dedication to great storytelling, something we as Africa’s most-loved storyteller can identify with,” concludes Mawela.

For broadcast details go to africa.espn.com, follow @ESPNAfrica or local listings.

What is ESPN:

  • ESPN is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment entity featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets. In Africa, ESPN and ESPN2 feature the NBA (National Basketball Association), NFL (National Football League), NHL (National Hockey League), MLB (Major League Baseball), MLS (Major League Soccer) and the latest from live football leagues including the Dutch Eredivisie, the English Football League and the Scottish Premier League. In addition, a variety of premiere news, studio and documentary programming is available, such as SportsCenter, the award-winning 30 for 30 films and more. ESPN: To Serve Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.
  • There are two channels that are launching on DStv this month

What is the difference between ESPN and ESPN2:

  • ESPN 2 will feature the very latest from America’s top sporting leagues such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and more
  • ESPN will feature live matches and programming from a number of European and African football leagues, matches, stars and athlete
  • Both channels will feature news, studio and documentary programming

What channels are launching:

  • ESPN
  • ESPN2

Where can I find ESPN:

  • DStv channel 218
  • 137 (Ghana)
  • 337 (Uganda)
  • 618 for Portuguese Markets
  • GOtv channel 38  

Where can I find ESPN2:

  • DStv channel 219
  • 618 for Portuguese Markets

Who can watch ESPN:

  • DStv viewers who have the following packages:
    • Premium
    • Compact Plus
    • Compact
    • Family/Familia (Mozambique)
  • GOtv Max

Who can watch ESPN2:

  • DStv viewers who have the following packages:
    • Premium
    • Compact Plus

When will these channels launch on DStv and GOtv?

  • Wednesday 29 July 2020
  • 18:00pm

Will matches, programmes and other ESPN content be available on catch up?

  • Select ESPN programming such as documentaries, films and magazine shows will be available on catch-up.
  • Repeats of matches will not be available on catch-up.

What programming highlights can I expect to see:

  • NFL’s Monday Night Football; MLB; NBA; college football from most of the major conferences as well as the College Football Playoff; men’s and women’s college basketball, including the women’s NCAA Tournament; WNBA; Little League World Series; more.
  • Studio shows including ESPN FC, Pardon the Interruption and more
  • Critically acclaimed and award-winning documentaries and original programming including the “30 for 30” films.

Will I be able to see local programming on ESPN?:

  • We are committed to developing and broadcasting local and regional sports events and intellectual property, including the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations and featured boxing tournaments and events.
  • Stay tuned for updates.

What language(s) will ESPN be broadcast in:

  • English

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb