SuperSport (South African broadcaster)

SuperSport is a South Africa-based Pan-Africa group of television channels carried on the DStv satellite & GOtv terrestrial platforms. It provides sports content in South Africa and many other African countries.[1]

SuperSport
Channel logo as of July 2012
CountrySouth Africa
Broadcast areaSub-Saharan Africa
AffiliatesESPN
Sky Sports
Sony TEN
Fox Sports Australia
Slogan"World of Champions"
HeadquartersJohannesburg
Programming
Language(s)Afrikaans
English
Portuguese
Sotho
Xhosa
Zulu
Picture format1080i 16:9, 4:3 (HDTV)
Downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed
Ownership
OwnerMultiChoice
Sister channelsM-Net, M-Net Movies, Africa Magic, Zambezi Magic, Mzansi Magic, Maisha Magic, Pearl Magic, M-Net City, Channel O, 1Magic, Vuzu, OneZed, Kyknet, Novela Magic
History
Launched1988 as Sports segment on M-Net, 1995 as a single complete channel.
Former namesM-Net SuperSport (1988–1994)
Links
Websitesupersport.com
Availability
Terrestrial
M-NetM-Net (as a sports feed during important events)
GOtv30-36 (Rest Of Africa)
130-136 (Ghana)
330-336 (Uganda)
CSN
Satellite
DStv200-215, 236-245 (South Africa)
200-215 & 236-242 (Nigeria)
220-242 (Rest Of Africa)
601 & 602, 620-636 (Angola & Mozambique)
Streaming media
SuperSport.comLive SuperSport Streaming online
DStv AppAvailable to Subscribers
Showmax ProLive SuperSport Streaming

Formerly, SuperSport also had operations in the Scandinavian, Benelux & Greek regions and had sports channels started by FilmNet, being owned by MultiChoice at the time & have since been replaced.

The channel broadcasts most of the major sporting events and leagues of association football, rugby, cricket, tennis, golf, motorsport, cycling, boxing, wrestling, hockey, athletics. It was previously the world's biggest broadcaster of live rugby and cricket (having been overtaken by Sky Sports), and also the world's second biggest Premier League broadcaster, broadcasting matches live and, where possible, in HD through the Premier League's Content Service Sr.[2]

Apart from its satellite channels, SuperSport also feeds content to M-Net, CSN and occasionally to M-Net HD. As of September 2020, much the same way Sky Sports has done, SuperSport started to run thematic channels with most major sports getting their own channels.

History

In 1986, M-Net was launched as South Africa's first pay-television channel and, along with Canal+, only the second outside of the United States. The channel immediately showed its intention to include sport in its programming line-up, by securing exclusive rights of an important Currie Cup match between Transvaal and Western Province for its first ever broadcast. From 1988, sports coverage on M-Net ran under the banner of M-Net SuperSport.

M-Net SuperSport expanded its range of coverage, including live overseas rugby, cricket, golf, boxing and cycling. Following South Africa's readmission into international cricket, SuperSport scored another marketing coup by securing exclusive rights to the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

When rugby turned professional in 1995, a deal was struck between the newly formed SANZAR and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. In South Africa, SuperSport was awarded exclusive broadcasting rights of the Super 12 competition, as well as the Tri Nations. Following this deal, rugby gradually ceased broadcasting on the SABC, while SuperSport became a carrier of live rugby broadcasts.

At the same time, Naspers expanded its pay-television operations to a satellite carrier. With the launch of DStv in 1995, SuperSport became a multi-channel network and an independent brand, although it was still primarily associated with M-Net. The network made full use of the satellite platform to expand its sports offering: For the Olympic Games, six channels are generally used for live events.

In 2007, the SABC lost its exclusive rights to the local Premier Soccer League (PSL) to SuperSport, in a deal worth R1.6 billion. The deal stipulated that some matches had to be shared with the SABC. In August 2011, SuperSport renewed its contract with the PSL for another five years.

Since 2011, SuperSport's association with M-Net began to fade, when M-Net split its terrestrial feed from its DStv channel. DStv viewers can no longer watch sports events on M-Net, although terrestrial subscribers still get feeds on the main channel, as well as the Community Services Network (CSN).

A Premier Soccer League team bears the channel's name. SuperSport United F.C. was originally known as Pretoria City but bought by M-Net in 1995 after which it was renamed.

On August 8, 2020, SuperSport announced a gradual makeover/revamp of its channels, meaning the numbering of the channels since the channel's commencement of expansion in 2003 such as SuperSport 3 would be replaced with specific-sport TV channels which they "enhances the sports viewers' experience" and "makes it easier to find and watch a favorite league, competition or sport". The revamp would be operational from September 1, 2020 onwards.[3]

List of channels
  • SuperSport Blitz HD (South Africa)> DStv Access
  • SuperSport Blitz ROA HD (220, GOtv Ch 30)> DStv Access; GOtv Lite
  • SuperSport Blitz Nigeria HD> DStv Yanga (Nigeria); GOtv Smallie (Nigeria)
  • SuperSport Blitz ROA HD (P) (600)
  • SuperSport Grandstand HD (South Africa)> DStv Premium
  • SuperSport Grandstand ROA HD (221)
  • SuperSport Grandstand Nigeria HD
  • SuperSport Grandstand ROA HD (P) (621)
  • SuperSport PSL HD (Southern Africa only)> DStv Compact
  • SuperSport Football Plus HD (222) (Rest Of Africa)> DStv Compact Plus
  • SuperSport Football Plus Nigeria HD (202)
  • SuperSport Football Plus HD (P) (622) (Rest Of Africa
  • SuperSport Premier League HD (South Africa)> DStv Compact
  • SuperSport Premier League ROA HD (223)
  • SuperSport Premier League Nigeria HD
  • SuperSport Premier League ROA HD (P) (623)
  • SuperSport LaLiga HD (South Africa)> DStv Family
  • SuperSport LaLiga ROA HD (224, GOtv Ch 32)> DStv Family; GOtv Max
  • SuperSport LaLiga Nigeria HD> DStv Confam (Nigeria); GOtv Max
  • SuperSport LaLiga ROA HD (P) (624)
  • SuperSport Football HD (South Africa)> DStv Family
  • SuperSport Football ROA (225, GOtv Ch 31)> DStv Access; GOtv Plus
  • SuperSport Football Nigeria> DStv Yanga; GOtv Jolli
  • SuperSport Football ROA (P) (625)
  • SuperSport Variety 1 HD (South Africa)> DStv Compact Plus
  • SuperSport Variety 1 ROA HD (226)
  • SuperSport Variety 1 Nigeria HD
  • SuperSport Variety 1 ROA HD (P) (626)
  • SuperSport Variety 2 HD (South Africa)> DStv Compact Plus
  • SuperSport Variety 2 Nigeria HD> DStv Compact
  • SuperSport Variety 2 ROA HD (227)> DStv Compact
  • SuperSport Variety 2 ROA HD (P) (627)
  • SuperSport Variety 3 HD (South Africa)> DStv Compact
  • SuperSport Variety 3 Nigeria HD> DStv Confam
  • SuperSport Variety 3 ROA HD (228)> DStv Family
  • SuperSport Variety 3 ROA HD (P) (628)
  • SuperSport Variety 4 HD (South Africa)> DStv Access
  • SuperSport Variety 4 Nigeria> DStv Confam
  • SuperSport Variety 4 ROA (229)> DStv Access
  • SuperSport Variety 4 ROA (P) (629)
  • SuperSport Action HD (South Africa)> DStv Compact Plus
  • SuperSport Action Nigeria HD
  • SuperSport Action ROA HD (230)
  • SuperSport Action ROA HD (P) (630)
  • SuperSport Rugby HD (South Africa)> DStv Premium
  • SuperSport Rugby Nigeria
  • SuperSport Rugby ROA (231)
  • SuperSport Rugby ROA (P) (631)
  • SuperSport Cricket HD (South Africa)> DStv Premium
  • SuperSport Cricket Nigeria
  • SuperSport Cricket ROA (232)
  • SuperSport Cricket ROA (P) (632)
  • SuperSport Golf HD (South Africa)> DStv Premium
  • SuperSport Golf Nigeria
  • SuperSport Golf ROA (233)
  • SuperSport Golf ROA (P) (633)
  • SuperSport Tennis HD (South Africa)> DStv Premium
  • SuperSport Tennis Nigeria HD
  • SuperSport Tennis ROA HD (234)
  • SuperSport Tennis ROA HD (P) (634)
  • SuperSport Motorsport HD (South Africa)> DStv Premium
  • SuperSport Motorsport Nigeria HD
  • SuperSport Motorsport ROA HD (235)
  • SuperSport Motorsport ROA HD (P) (635)
  • SuperSport Select 1 (Rest of Africa, only on GOtv, Ch 33)> GOtv Max
  • SuperSport Select 2 (Rest of Africa, only on GOtv, Ch 34)> GOtv Value: GOtv Jinja (Nigeria)
  • SuperSport WWE HD (236/620 {Portuguese Viewers})// WWE Channel HD (128)> DStv Family (South Africa), DStv Compact (Rest Of Africa)
  • SuperSport Máximo 1 HD (241) (Portuguese Channel)> DStv Premium
  • SuperSport Máximo 1 HD (P) (601) (Portuguese Channel. Rest of Africa only
  • SuperSport Máximo 2 HD (242) (Portuguese Channel. Rest of Africa only)> DStv Premium
  • SuperSport Máximo 2 HD (P) (602) (Portuguese Channel. Rest of Africa only)
  • SuperSport Máximo 360 (Portuguese Channel. Available in Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique only, DStv Ch 603, GOtv Ch 36)> GOtv Plus
  • SuperSport CSN (South Africa only)
  • SuperSport Play (243) (Southern Africa only)
  • SuperSport OTT (244) (South Africa only)
  • SuperSport OTT 1 (245) (South Africa only)

SuperSport Blitz (200)

SuperSport Blitz is Africa's premier dedicated 24-hour sports news channel featuring the latest news, features, announcements, highlights, previews & sporting events all around the world.

SuperSport Grandstand (201)

SuperSport's top channel which features the best of the day's live content including top events from tennis, rugby, cricket and live WWE pay-per-views. This channel is only available to DStv Premium subscribers.

SuperSport PSL (202)

SuperSport PSL focuses mainly on domestic soccer matches in South Africa and other African countries through live broadcasts, magazine shows and highlights. They now show Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of their "Super Diski" shows. The channel also shows many PSL themed news and talk shows under the "PSL TV" brand. These shows air at least one new show nightly. They include Extra Time, Back Pages, Mzansi Legends, National First Division Show, PSL News, Thursday Night Live With Robert Marawa, Love PSL and various club magazine shows. All local matches have Zulu and Sesotho commentary.

As this channel is locally oriented (South Africa) , it is included on the Compact bouquet for Southern African viewers.

SuperSport Football Plus (202)

SuperSport Football Plus is a 24-hour dedicated football/soccer channel, specifically made for as the new home of UEFA competitions for ROA Viewers alongside featured soccer documentaries, shows, news & matches. It also acts as a soccer overflow channel broadcasting other live fixtures when other SuperSport channels are occupied with live events.

This channel is available for Nigeria (Ch. 202) & The Rest of African (ROA》Ch. 222/622) audiences on the DStv Compact Plus package.

SuperSport Premier League (203)

SuperSport Premier League is a 24-hour football/soccer channel. SuperSport has the exclusive rights of telecasting the Premier League, UEFA Competitions (For South African Viewers) and other major football tournaments. It is available on the DStv Compact package.

SuperSport La Liga (204)

Home of the Spanish La Liga while also showcasing overflow matches from the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

In South Africa, The channel is available to DStv Family customers.

SuperSport Football (205)

Primarily showcases Italy's Serie A while also broadcasting matches from the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and selected international matches.

The channel is available for DStv Family and upper packages in South Africa

SuperSport Variety 1 (206)

Variety 1 focuses on cycling and swimming events while also functioning as an overflow channel for soccer, golf, tennis, rugby and cricket events.

As the channel includes involvement with overflow content with rugby, tennis and other Premium sports , the channel is available to DStv Compact Plus customers in South Africa

SuperSport Variety 2 (207)

Variety 2 features gymnastics, hockey, sailing and squash events while also functioning as an overflow channel for soccer matches.

The channel is available to DStv Compact Plus customers as part of the offering SuperSport gives


SuperSport Variety 3 (208)

Variety 3 broadcasts athletics events, marathons, live WWE programming including pay-per-view events, and also functions as an overflow for soccer matches.

Due to the overflow of some PSL and Premier League matches, the channel is available to DStv Compact as part of a football offering channel as well.

SuperSport Variety 4 (209)

Variety 4 focuses on grassroot sports including varsity rugby, netball, BNL, MDC, SRC, as well as WWE highlights.

SuperSport Action (210)

SuperSport Action broadcasts a range of extreme sports as well as major boxing matches, UFC and EFC mixed martial arts programming and overflow content from rugby, soccer and cricket.

Available to DStv Compact Plus customers

SuperSport Rugby (211)

SuperSport Rugby is the channel which focuses mainly on rugby. It shows all national team rugby matches live, as well as all Super Rugby fixtures, the Currie Cup, Varsity Rugby and certain top high school and club matches. Most matches have commentary in both English and Afrikaans, with a growing number also featuring a Xhosa feed.[4]

As the world's largest broadcaster of live rugby, SuperSport's commentators read like a "who's who" of South African rugby greats. Current lead commentators in English are Matthew Pearce, Hugh Bladen, Gavin Cowley, Owen Nkumane and Paul Stubbs, while their analyst pool includes Joel Stransky, Gcobani Bobo, Bobby Skinstad, Breyton Paulse, Nick Mallett, Ashwin Willemse, Kobus Wiese, Victor Matfield, Jean de Villiers and Naas Botha.

As a large broadcaster with expensive rights to the sport , the channel is exclusively on DStv Premium.

SuperSport Cricket (212)

SuperSport Cricket primarily shows Cricket. All international cricket involving the South African national cricket team, as well as certain domestic cricket, is shown on this channel. The presentation and commentary team who cover South African home games include Mark Nicholas, Mike Haysman, Pommie Mbangwa, Michael Holding, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, JP Duminy and guest pundits from the opposition team.

The channel is also available only on DStv Premium

SuperSport Golf (213)

SuperSport Golf is the home of the majors with coverage of the PGA tour and other major golfing events including the Open , The Masters and many more.

This channel is available only on DStv Premium

SuperSport Tennis (214)

SuperSport Tennis is a 24-hour dedicated tennis channel showcasing live tennis from Grand Slams to the ATP World Tour, WTA & other major tennis events.

Available to DStv Premium customers

SuperSport Motorsport (215)

SuperSport Motorsport features live and archive content from the world of motorsports including Formula 1, MotoGP, Superbikes, Formula E, NASCAR and more.

Exclusive to DStv Premium

SuperSport WWE (236)

In addition to the WWE Network being made locally available, SuperSport's WWE channel features live broadcasts of WWE's flagship programming of WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown, along with additional WWE Network content including pay-per-view events, WWE NXT, WWE 24, WWE Ride Along and more.

SuperSport Maximo (241)

SuperSport Maximo is the Portuguese-language channel broadcasting the same events from the other SuperSport channels. It is available mainly in the countries of Lusophone Africa, but also in other African countries including South Africa.

Broadcasting rights

Multi-sport events

Domestic

International

Domestic

International

Rugby

Golf

Tennis

Motorsport

Netball

Cycling

Boxing

Professional Wrestling

MMA

As of 17 January 2019 started broadcasting UFC pay-per-view events live .

It also earned the rights for EFC events starting from March, 2019.

See also

References
  1. "Ten Sports, Supersport sign multi-year digital content partnership". Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  2. "SuperSport wins South African contracts". Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  3. AsuquoE (8 August 2020). "SuperSport channels are getting a new makeover to give your favourite sport a dedicated home of its own". TalkMedia Africa. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  4. Xhosa rugby commentary not kicked into touch, The Sowetan, 23 July 2014
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