Youtube – After retracting its announcement to live stream sports events in Africa on the 3rd July 2019, the video-sharing website has issued a press release to clarify its sports offering terms.
YouTube has clarified that there is a huge difference between live streaming and uploading highlights for consumers to stream and download. They noted that they are not in any agreement for live distribution of global and local sports franchise with SuperSport.
YouTube, broadcasters and rights holders like SuperSport collaborate to bring sporting events free to consumers through YouTube platform. YouTube’s partners, SuperSport owns the exclusive rights to UEFA Champions and Europa league, FIFA Women’s World Cup and AFCON.
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According to Gideon Khoban, CEO of SuperSport, they leverage on YouTube to grow sports fan base and reach digital audiences who are in search of sports content in Sub-Saharan Africa. He recounted that contents curated and published on YouTube are under their editorial control and aligns with their broadcast and transmission rights agreements with rights holders.
Dapo Olopade YouTube Content Partnership Lead said they know that people are excited about sports content on the YouTube platform. He also said they are happy to aid sports enthusiasts to discover more of the sports they love, through their partnership with global and local partners. He said that they ‘apologise for any confusion caused’.
The SuperSport channel on YouTube recently hit one million subscribers. The channel gives sports enthusiast across Africa access to edited highlights of selected games.