Publications
Partners
UPDATE, 4 JULY - 17:21:
YouTube works closely with broadcasters and rights holders in order to distribute their sporting events on the YouTube platform.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, YouTube works with partners including SuperSport, which owns the exclusive regional broadcast rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, FIFA Women’s World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, among other franchises.
SuperSport’s YouTube channel, which recently hit one million subscribers, publishes select video-on-demand highlights packages where permitted - which means fans across Africa can watch edited highlights of selected games after they have first aired live on SuperSport.
“SuperSport uses YouTube to grow sport fandom and reach digital audiences that are searching for sports content in Sub-Saharan Africa,” says Gideon Khobane, CEO of SuperSport.
"All content curated and published on YouTube is fully in SuperSport’s editorial control and in accordance with their broadcast and transmission rights agreements with rights holders." Live streaming is different from uploading highlights to stream on demand, and SuperSport has made no current agreement for live distribution of global or local sports franchises on YouTube.
YouTube does not own or license any of the underlying broadcast rights, and SuperSport publishes clips, highlights and ancillary sport content to YouTube at its complete discretion.
"We know audiences are excited about sports content on YouTube and we are pleased to help fans discover more of the sports they love, in collaboration with our global and local partners," says YouTube content partnerships lead Dayo Olopade. "We apologise for any confusion caused."
UPDATE, 3 JULY 2019 - 10:40:
This article has been updated after YouTube revised its press release sent out on Tuesday to the media and have asked that the words "live streaming" be removed from the article.
Johannesburg - Sports fans will now have access to Video On Demand (VOD) streaming on YouTube.
The video-sharing website service announced on Tuesday that sports fanatics can now enjoy basketball, rugby, cricket and football events on YouTube via video on demand (VOD) and highlights packages including the recent NBA Finals, UEFA Champions League, ABSA Premiership, Serie A, La Liga, Women’s World Cup, UFC and AFCON.
Sports consumption on YouTube in the EMEA region is growing fast. In 2018 alone, YouTube saw a 70% increase in views of sports and fitness related content - totalling more than 61 billion views. In Africa, sports content on YouTube is both broad and deep with YouTube delivering evergreen sporting highlights alongside new and emerging sports experiences like home fitness and 79% of viewers saying that YouTube has sport and fitness content they can’t find anywhere else.
"It goes without saying that Africa is sport-loving continent, so it makes perfect sense for us to bring African sports fans what they love. Our audience is constantly looking for sports content on YouTube,” says YouTube content partnerships lead Dayo Olopade.
"In 2018, we saw a 70% increase of views in Sports & Fitness content on YouTube across Europe, the Middle East and Africa with content garnering more than 61 billion views. Today we are here to say we hear you and we are more than happy to bring you the content you desire, in partnership with NBA Africa and our other partners.”
In June video on demand service Showmax moved into live streaming sport.
READ MORE:
Everything you need to know about streaming sport live on Showmax
Cape Town - Showmax is branching out and adding both pre-recorded and live sport content to its current line-up of TV series, movies and kids' shows. The move into live streaming is a first for Showmax in Africa.
