Emerging African broadcaster Econet Media announced the latest innovation within its Kwese branded portfolio with the showcase of its free-to-air channel Kwese Free Sports in Kigali, Rwanda on Thursday 22nd September at the Marriot Hotel. Offering the very best in both local and exclusive international content, Kwese Free Sports is here to change the face of ‘free-to-air’ (FTA) in Africa.

Rwandans are now able to watch the world’s biggest sports stars from their homes FREE through Kwese Free Sports on any digital television Free-To-Air set-top box or digital TV with a built-in set-top box.Sports lovers will be able to enjoy Premier League, Formula 1, NBA, American’s cup, Aviva Rugby, NFL and so much more. Other live football will include Brazil Serie A, and Copa Del Rey.

Sam Nkusi, a local shareholder & Director at Kwese Sports Rwanda, who also serves as Group Executive for Liquid Telecom Group, Chairman for Liquid Telecom Rwanda and Liquid Telecom Kenya as well as the Liquid Sea Overseer, attended the event and gave opening remarks on the launch of the service.

Leveraging Econet Media’s portfolio of exclusive premium sports rights, viewers can look forward to the very best in sports content from across the globe. Having previously announced exclusive rights deals across a number of premium sporting codes including the Premier League, the National Basketball Association (NBA), Formula 1, Brazil Serie A, Copa Del Rey, Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) and the National Football League (NFL) among others, the company will now be bringing to DTT and DTH viewers across Rwanda and indeed the continent access to premium content for free.

This is the latest development in the evolution of Econet Media’s Kwese portfolio which continues to bring African viewers access to premium content in the most accessible way possible.

Kwese Free Sports recognises that viewers are increasingly looking for new and exciting content.

"We are thrilled to have reached this important milestone. Our goal is to bring African viewers the very best viewing experience and we are able to provide this for free in a way that is accessible for our viewers,” Ben Amadasun, CEO Kwese Free Sports.

Kwese Free Sports will also in time showcase local productions giving local viewers a platform to share their stories on this truly African broadcast platform. "Supporting local producers is part of our commitment to making a positive contribution to the local industry”, concluded Cedric Pierre Louis, General Manager: Kwese Free Sports, Rwanda. The diversity of content will give local producers an exciting platform on which to develop fresh and dynamic content.

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About Kwese Free Sports

Kwese Free Sports is a newly launched TV channel offering premium sport viewing to sports fanatics in Kenya absolutely for free. Watch on your any Free-To Air Set Top Box (STB) or digital TV with no subscription fee. Viewers can also live stream the channel on the Kwese Now app or on kwesesports.com/free wherever you are, whenever you want. Don’t miss the English Premier League live, NBA, NFL, FIA Formula E Championship, AVIVA Premiership Rugby as well as sport themed magazine shows and movies only on Kwese Free Sports.

About Econet Media

A subsidiary company of the globally networked Econet Group founded by Executive Chairman Strive Masiyiwa, Econet Media is a dynamic content business driving the development of Kwese, a fresh new television brand. Created for Sub-Saharan African audiences, Kwese is inspired by the ‘TV everywhere’ revolution. As such, a range of Kwese products will be made available on satellite and internet based platforms, including video-on-demand and mobile options.

Focussed on providing premium, affordable, exclusive viewing choices, Kwese products will offer sports, music, movies, series, kids, lifestyle, faith, news and other programming. Consumers will also benefit from the infrastructural strength of Econet Media sister companies, Liquid Telecom and Econet Wireless. Their expertise and capacity in the areas of mobile and fixed telephony services, broadband, internet, satellite and fibre optic networks will be utilized to establish Kwese products. In addition, Econet Media have invested intensively to build its own operational assets. www.kwese.com.

Media Contacts

Reatile Tekateka,Head of Public Relations & Communications | Econet Media,(m) +27 83 374 2601 Email: reatile@econetmedia.com mailto:tshepo.mphela@havasww.co.za