MultiChoice issues legal threat as new football season sparks piracy concerns
What you need to know:
- The company, which operates the DStv platform across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania, made it clear that no one is permitted to show matches from major international competitions without prior approval.
Dar es Salaam. With the 2025/2026 European football season just days away, MultiChoice has issued a firm warning against the unauthorized airing of its sports content, vowing to take legal action against individuals or organizations who breach its exclusive broadcast rights.
The company, which operates the DStv platform across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania, made it clear that no one is permitted to show matches from major international competitions without prior approval.
In its official statement released this week, MultiChoice emphasized that its subsidiary, SuperSport International (Pty) Limited, holds exclusive Pay-TV rights for some of the world’s most watched football tournaments.
These include the English Premier League, Uefa Champions League, Uefa Europa League, Uefa Europa Conference League, Uefa Super Cup, Uefa Youth League, and the FA Community Shield.
The company warned that any attempt to broadcast, stream, or distribute these competitions through unlicensed means is not only unlawful, but also a direct violation of existing copyright and broadcast agreements.
The timing of this warning is significant. As football fever builds across Tanzania ahead of the Premier League’s opening clash between Liverpool and AFC Bournemouth on August 15, illegal screenings in bars, local TV stations, and online platforms often surge.
MultiChoice’s move aims to pre-empt such violations, reminding the public that SuperSport remains the only licensed broadcaster for these competitions within the region. The company cited Tanzania’s Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act No. 7 of 1999 to stress that any unauthorized use of its content is punishable under law.
According to the statement, sports content under SuperSport’s license may only be aired through its dedicated channels on DStv, and any rebroadcast through cable networks, social media, or third-party apps without express permission is prohibited.
MultiChoice further warned that it will not hesitate to initiate civil or criminal proceedings against offenders, regardless of their size or location.
This message was particularly directed at cable network owners, local broadcasters, and even sports bars that often screen football matches to attract customers.
The legal notice also aligns with MultiChoice’s recently launched campaign, “It’s On!”, which showcases the depth of football content available to DStv subscribers this season.
The campaign revealed that all 380 Premier League matches will be broadcast on SuperSport Premier League (channel 223), over 300 La Liga games on SuperSport La Liga (channel 224), and a similar number of Serie A matches depending on subscription tiers.
Football remains one of the most followed sports in Tanzania, with passionate fan bases for clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona, and Juventus.
As the season approaches, MultiChoice is doubling down on its rights enforcement, signaling that the economic value of sports broadcasting must be respected and protected.
The warning serves both as a legal notice and a call to action for content creators, platforms, and fans to access matches through legitimate channels only
