Afcon 2023 Sets Viewership Records with Landmark Success in Sports Broadcasting

Posted : 25 July 2024

Football, known globally as soccer or “The Beautiful Game,” remains the most-watched sport, capturing the interest of approximately 40 percent of the global population. This popularity was vividly demonstrated during the 2023 African Cup of Nations (Afcon), hosted in Ivory Coast. The tournament not only captivated fans across the continent but also achieved significant milestones in sports broadcasting.

The 2023 Afcon proved to be a monumental success, setting new records in viewership. The semifinal clash between Nigeria and South Africa drew a remarkable unique audience of 10.3 million viewers across SuperSport and SABC platforms. This impressive figure highlights the tournament's widespread appeal and the growing enthusiasm for African football.

Recent data from Nielsen Sports SA underscores the global impact of Afcon, revealing that the tournament attracted over 1.4 billion cumulative TV viewers worldwide. The latest Afcon event saw a 54 percent increase in its total unique audience compared to the previous year, with 22.3 million viewers engaging with the tournament, compared to 14.4 million in 2022. This surge in viewership reflects the rising interest and support for African football.

SuperSport emerged as the dominant platform for broadcasting the Afcon tournament, accounting for 70 percent of the broadcast hours. Despite receiving the broadcast rights only two weeks before the tournament's start, SuperSport's coverage was a significant factor in Afcon's high viewership. The tournament outperformed other major football leagues and even the 2022 FIFA World Cup in terms of unique viewers, underscoring the superiority of pay-TV channels in delivering premium sports content.

Industry experts, including Tumelo Selikane from Nielsen Sports SA and Errol Madlala from the South African Football Association (SAFA), have highlighted Afcon 2023 as a milestone for South African broadcasters and the broader sports industry. The tournament not only set viewership records but also served as a powerful commercial and narrative tool, particularly when Bafana Bafana was competing. Luxolo September from CAF praised the success of Afcon as a testament to African football's global competitiveness and commercial viability, attributing its success to the exceptional coverage provided by SuperSport and SABC.

Afcon 2023 Sets Viewership Records with Landmark Success in Sports Broadcasting

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