Athletics come to mind when people hear the name Ethiopia. But, by some distance (no pun intended), the most popular sport in Ethiopia has always been soccer, with European competitions drawing large crowds in show houses. Soccer from Europe even tops local competitions in terms of how regularly fans tune in.
Despite the nationwide interest to regularly watch soccer games, Digital Satellite Television (DStv) is currently the sole player in the media landscape. That’s mainly down to the South Africa-based station’s uninterrupted rights to the English Premier League for over a decade.
A short-lived fame by GTV is a testament to that. The satellite television operator owned by Gateway Communications entered the fray in 2007 by beating DStv for the then-Barclays Premier League TV rights. But, by January 2009, GTV entered liquidation and shut down its services.
From its weak signal to the rare availability of decoders, that was a tough time to follow the most popular league for Ethiopians. Luckily DStv was around to win back the rights and continue to deliver high-quality broadcast that includes a studio panel.
The early 2000s set the tone for European soccer in Ethiopia
The satellite TV culture spread in Ethiopia in the early 2000s. Before that, there was hardly a means to watch live games apart from major tournaments. And, with the time intersecting Premier League’s renaissance, the English game resonates with the majority of soccer following community.
As is also the case in neighboring East African regions, Arsenal and Manchester United have a large number of fans because of their respective heydays under Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson. Jose Mourinho’s influence also created a decent Chelsea following. Before Jürgen Klopp’s era, Liverpool’s small fanbase was the doing of Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes and Ian Rush. Similarly, Manchester City is now attracting a new generation of soccer fans.
LaLiga also enjoyed a good…
Author : Eskender Tamrat
Publish date : 2024-10-21 15:27:06
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.The post What’s it like to follow European soccer from Ethiopia first appeared on Foot & Soccer.
Author : footsoccer
Publish date : 2024-10-21 15:40:46
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.