By BBC World Service International Publicity
Published August 4, 2015
Football fans across Africa shall from August 8, 2015 follow live action of the new season of the Barclays Premier League in four languages.
RELATED: Why Africa Idolises English Premier League
BBC Africa will bring commentary from matches of the world-famous league to football fans across the continent in Kiswahili, Hausa, Somali and French.
Broadcasts shall be available on BBC FM stations and partner radio networks. These shall be in form of live match commentary and interaction with pundits and fans across the continent via satellite links, telephone, SMS and social-media channels. Live updates from matches will also be offered via live pages for each of these services on bbc.com, giving fans the chance to keep up with the matches wherever they are.
Solomon Mugera, BBC Africa Editor, says: “We know that the English Premier League has millions of supporters from all across Africa and are very happy to be launching the season once again. Our commentary brings the thrill of these matches directly to fans, and there is more to come. In response to our audience’s growing interest in all things English Premier League, we want to give them an all access pass to players and clubs as well featuring the people who are the league’s heartbeat: its fans. Look out for our new and exciting online extras to support this season.”
RELATED: Barclays Premier League Springs to Life on BBC Kiswahili Radio
While Kiswahili commentators on Ulimwengu wa Soka shall be Salim Kikeke and Hamisi Kizigo, those of Hausa on Sharhin Gasar Premier League shall be Aminu Kado and Aliyu Tanko. Ahmed Abdinur and Mohamed Deysane shall commentate in Somali on Tabinta Tooska ah ee Tartanka Premier League-ga Ingiriiska ee Sabtida as Emmanuel Coste of BBC Afrique commentates in French on Samedi Foot.
Football fans from anywhere in the world can follow BBC’s multi-media content via the website of their language: bbcswahili.com, bbchausa.com, bbcsomali.com and bbcafrique.com.
BBC Kiswahili, that reaches 16.6 million listeners every week across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi, is broadcast via 21 local FM stations and has more than 973,000 fans on Facebook and more than 55,000 followers on Twitter.
BBC Hausa reaches an audience of 18.1 million every week across Nigeria, Niger, Ghana and Benin. It is broadcast via 14 local FM stations and has more than 872,000 fans on Facebook and more than 110,000 followers on Twitter.
RELATED: BBC World Service secures Barclays Premier League commentary rights for its African services
BBC Afrique reaches 12.7 million listeners every week and provides content for 23 countries across Africa. Broadcast via eight local FM stations, BBC Afrique has more than 382,000 fans on Facebook and more than 124,000 followers on Twitter
BBC Somali, on the other hand, reaches an audience of 3.5 million every week across Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia. It is broadcast via four local FM stations and has more than 299,700 fans on Facebook and more than 32,000 followers on Twitter.
