On Tuesday, 2 July 2019, it was announced that YouTube plans to launch a ‘live-stream’ video-on-demand service covering a number of major African sporting events. However, the content giant has since issued a press release stating that the video content platform would like to clarify earlier statements regarding its sports content offering.
YouTube works closely with broadcasters and rights holders, like SuperSport, in order to make the sporting events freely available across the platform. And within South Africa, YouTube’s partners own 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, uploads select video-on-demand highlights packages where permitted – this gives fans across Africa access to 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.”
YouTube notes that ‘live streaming’ and ‘uploading highlights to stream on demand’ are two very different things, and SuperSport has made no current agreement for live distribution of global or local sports franchises on YouTube.
“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.”
Edited by Jenna Cook
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