The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has secured a multi-year media rights agreement with CANAL+ to broadcast across French speaking countries
CANAL+ will provide live localised programming across all PFL Global, PFL Europe, PFL MENA, Bellator Champions Series, PFL Super Fights, selected PFL and Bellator archives, and also PFL Africa which will launch in 2025.
PFL will benefit from the exposure offered by Canal+ Sport channels in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it will carry PFL action with French commentary on linear channels across 8 million homes.
The partnership also includes Myanmar and Haiti where CANAL+ broadcasts several sports competitions.
James Frewin, PFL Managing Director International, said: “The Professional Fighters League could not be more excited to partner with Canal+ bringing our brand to French speaking Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The PFL believes strongly in connecting with MMA fans in areas that have been traditionally underserved in the sport and doing so in their native languages. Canal+ is the sports media brand that lives in the hearts and minds of the French speaking population in Sub-Saharan Africa and is synonymous with premium sport.”
The 2024 PFL Global Season and Global Season Playoffs will be available live across ESPN platforms in the US and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally.
Securing Canal+ as a broadcast partner will enable PFL to grow its brand across French speaking countries, such as France, Belgium and a host of African countries, and further build its promotion of PFL Africa.
Jacques du Puy, CEO of CANAL+ International, added: “We are proud to bring PFL to our African subscribers. Fighting competitions, and MMA leagues in particular, attract ever larger audiences of fans among African audiences.
“And we are all the more thrilled to partner with a dedicated PFL franchise in Africa and broadcast top fights with stars such as Francis Ngannou or Cedric Doumbe. This perfectly fits our strategy of promoting African sport on the continent and beyond.”
