Television Rights: How to Watch Sports, Shows & Live Events
Television rights decide who can show a match, a tournament or a TV series in your country. They shape what you can watch for free, what needs a subscription, and which events get geo-blocked. If you've missed a match because the game moved to a new platform, this page explains why that happens and how to find the broadcast without wasting time.
What TV rights mean for you
Broadcasters buy exclusive rights from leagues, federations or studios. That gives them the legal power to air, stream and profit from the content in certain regions. For fans that often means the same event can be on different services around the world — ESPN+ in the US, Fancode in India or local free-to-air channels in parts of Africa. Exclusive deals can improve production and commentary, but they also split matches across multiple apps.
Rights also affect replay rules and highlights. Some platforms allow full-match replays for a limited time, while others only show short clips. If you follow a club or national team, check where that competition sells its rights (league website or federation usually lists partners).
Practical tips to find and watch broadcasts
Start local: check your national broadcaster and major sports channels. Public stations often have rights for big tournaments, while pay TV and streamers pick up leagues and niche events.
Use official guides: match previews and broadcast guides — like our live streaming guides for cricket and cup games — list which platforms show the event in key markets. If a guide names Fancode, Tapmad or ESPN, that’s the platform you should try first.
Avoid guessing: unlicensed streams can be low quality and risky. If a match is behind a paywall, weigh cost vs frequency. Many services offer monthly passes or short-term event passes — useful if you only want one tournament.
Travel and access: rights are region-based. If you travel often, check whether your subscription works abroad. Some services restrict viewing outside your home country. Using a VPN may seem tempting, but it can break service terms and risk account suspension. Read the provider’s rules before using a VPN.
Mobile-first: many broadcasters have apps with cheaper mobile-only plans. If you watch on a phone, this can be cheaper than full TV packages. But check device limits — some services only allow two devices at once.
Keep alerts: sign up for notifications from the league, club or broadcaster. Rights deals sometimes change mid-season, and a quick alert will save you a search scramble.
Want to dig deeper? Read our match-by-match broadcast guides and event previews on Africa Daily Dispatch. We track who’s showing what, so you don’t miss kick-off, first serve, or tip-off.
FC Barcelona Set to Earn €130 Million from LaLiga TV Rights for 2023/24 Season
FC Barcelona is expected to earn around €130 million from LaLiga television rights for the 2023/24 season, primarily due to their second place finish. The total revenue from television rights is about €1.5 billion, with a significant portion allocated to various non-professional football ventures. The remaining amount is distributed among the 20 LaLiga clubs based on their standings.