FACT CHECK: Viral False Claim About DStv Creating Channel To Show Saudi League Because Of Ronaldo

Social media users have been sharing an online post that claims that Sub-Saharan African broadcast satellite service, DStv has created a new channel, 240, “just to show the Saudi Arabian league”.

CLAIM:

Many of the social media users sharing the claim, apparently fans of Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, tagged it “the Ronaldo effect”. The claim appeared on Facebook and Twitter.

See some of the posts below:

🚨| Breaking
DSTV Has Added A Saudi League Channel
Check Channel *240*.

Ronaldo Effect….✍️.. Language is in Arabic though. pic.twitter.com/1jAHp0SKyH

— FamousTengz (@KwasiTengs) January 1, 2023

BREAKING
DSTV Has Added A Saudi League Channel
to Channel 240
Al Nassr has hit 6 million followers, which is more than Europe's elite teams like Sevilla, Valencia, Roma, Napoli, Aston Villa, Everton.
From 850k followers to 6m, just becos of @Cristiano
Ronaldo Effect✍️ pic.twitter.com/RegMU2uKsd

— Kingsley Dominic (Kizzy) (@Kizzy24) January 2, 2023

DSTV has already added Saudi Arabian league on channel 240. This effect has been impacted on by a player who joined the league this season and thats non other than the GOAT 🐐 Ronaldo was given five private cars, stadium, restaurant and a Palace in Riyadh with complete security. pic.twitter.com/xbgQeopUWS

— PETER JUDGE ASIIMWE (@AsiimweMiles) January 1, 2023

Background

Ronaldo, 37, joined Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia in December 2022. His two-year contract took effect on January 1, 2023.

Walks of the greatness 🐐💛 pic.twitter.com/7FzLZSchQ5

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 3, 2023

His arrival is a stunning turn of events after he spent the first half of the current football season in the English Premier League (EPL).

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo is one of the world’s most marketable and famous athletes. He has turned out for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in a career that spans over 20 years.

THE FACT:

The said DStv channel, 240, has been in existence since at least mid-2022, and it is for horse racing. See pictorial evidence below:

VERDICT: The claim that DStv opened a channel (240) for the Saudi Arabian league by virtue of Ronaldo’s presence in the Asian country, is false. DStv channel 240 is not a new channel.