MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, has launched a dedicated 24-hour Kiswahili sports channel across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, seeking to deepen its reach among East African football fans through local-language coverage of major international competitions.
SuperSport Swahili, which will be available on DStv channel 216, will offer selected live Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches, alongside fixtures from LaLiga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
The launch coincides with the introduction of MultiChoice’s new DStv packages under its Expect Morecampaign, with the broadcaster positioning local-language sports content as a key part of its strategy to attract and retain subscribers in the region.
The channel will be available to DStv customers on the Sports and Ultimate packages, while GOtvsubscribers can access it on channel 570 through the Sports package. It will also be accessible through the DStv App.
Beyond live football, the channel will broadcast selected FA Cup and Carabao Cup matches, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Diamond League athletics and marathons. Its programming will also include WWE and UFC coverage dubbed into Kiswahili, highlights, interviews and studio discussions.
CANAL+ Senior Vice-President of Sport Content for English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, Rendani Ramovha says the initiative was aimed at creating a stronger cultural connection with audiences by delivering major sporting events in a language that resonates with them.
The first weekend will feature Arsenal against Hull City on Saturday and the LaLiga clash between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday.
The launch also comes ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host, presenting an opportunity for broadcasters to expand local-language sports coverage across the region.