SportBusiness.com

Athletics World Championships gets Africa TV deal

South Africa-based broadcaster Supersport has acquired non-exclusive pay-television rights in sub-Saharan Africa for the IAAF’s athletics World Championships in 2011 and 2013.

Supersport also acquires rights for the World Indoor Championships, the 2010 edition of which begins in Doha in March, and other events in the IAAF’s ‘World Athletics Series’ (WAS) package. Supersport has committed to broadcast at least part of every event in the WAS.

The deal was brokered by the IEC in Sports agency, which is selling the worldwide media rights for the WAS, 2010 to 2013, on behalf of the IAAF.

“Aligning with the premier Pay TV platform covering the continent was fundamental in ensuring top class coverage on a pan-continental basis,” said Jonas Persson, chief executive of IEC In Sports. “At the same time, our pursuit of a non-exclusive strategy ensured equal opportunities for broadcasters and the greatest possible choice for viewers.”