Pay television operator StarTimes Media has today acquired the broadcast rights for the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League that is set to kick off from 3rd September.
StarTimes has secured UEFA Nations League broadcasting rights as part of the company’s National Team Football agreement with UEFA over the period 2019-2022. The company has secured transmission rights for exploitation across all media platforms including its self-produced sports channels as well as on StarTimes ON streaming platform in all countries across sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa.
While acknowledging the increased sports properties on the digital television platform, StarTimes Regional Marketing Director Mr Aldrine Nsubuga said, “With the Euro 2020 having been postponed, we are very excited to air the UEFA Nations League this being the only national team event this year. All European football stars will be there and we can expect a great football show.”
The Nations League is UEFA’s latest national-team competition with this year’s action being its second edition. Hosts Portugal beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the inaugural 2018/19 UEFA Nations League final in Porto on 9 June 2019.
The national-team competition replaces friendlies with competitive matches, allowing nations to play against equally ranked teams.
The 55 European national teams are divided into four leagues based on the 2018–19 Nations League overall ranking. Leagues A, B and C feature 16 teams each while there are seven teams in League D.
The four group winners of the top-ranked League A qualify for the UEFA Nations League Finals in June 2021 with the knockout tournament hosted by one of the quartets. For the remaining sides, there is promotion and relegation to play for.
The 2020/21 group stage matches will be played between September and November where matchday 1 will see heavyweights Germany face off against Spain, Sweden against France and titleholders Portugal against Croatia.