| SuperSport | |
| Launch Date: | (as Sports segment on M-Net) 1995 (as a single complete channel) |
| Picture Format: | 4K, 1080i, (HDTV) |
| Network: | DStv |
| Owner: | MultiChoice |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Area: | Africa |
| Headquarters: | Johannesburg |
| Former Names: | M-Net SuperSport (1988–1994) |
| Terr Serv 1: | M-Net |
| Terr Chan 1: | M-Net (as a sports feed during important events) |
| Terr Serv 2: | GOtv |
| Terr Chan 2: | 60–69 (Bantu Africa) 160–169 (Ghana) 360–369 (Uganda) |
| Terr Chan 3: | CSN |
| Online Serv 1: | SuperSport.com |
| Online Chan 1: | Live SuperSport Streaming online |
| Online Serv 2: | DStv Stream App |
| Online Chan 2: | Available to Subscribers |
| Online Serv 3: | Showmax |
| Online Chan 3: | Live SuperSport Streaming |
SuperSport is a prominent sports broadcaster with a rich history of international operations. Originally, it extended its reach beyond Africa [1], operating in various European regions, including Scandinavia, Benelux, Italy, Eastern Europe, Greece, and Cyprus. These operations were initially launched by FilmNet and later came under the ownership of MultiChoice. However, these channels have since been replaced. SuperSport also operated in Thailand under the name True Sport and had a presence in Egypt and the Middle East through partnerships with the Cable Network of Egypt (CNE) and the Arab Radio and Television Network.
SuperSport broadcasts a wide array of major sporting events and leagues, including association football, rugby, cricket, tennis, golf, motorsport, cycling, boxing, wrestling, field hockey, and athletics. At its peak, it was the world's largest broadcaster of live rugby and cricket, though it has since been overtaken by Sky Sports. It also held the position of the second-largest Premier League broadcaster globally, offering live matches and, when possible, high-definition broadcasts through the Premier League's Content Service [2] .
In addition to its satellite channels, SuperSport provides content to M-Net, CSN, and occasionally M-Net HD. Following the model of Sky Sports, in September 2020, SuperSport began operating thematic channels, dedicating specific channels to major sports.
Currently, more than 3.5 million households across Africa access SuperSport via the DStv platform, making it a significant player in the sports entertainment industry. The SuperSport brand has become synonymous with sports in Africa, embodying a commitment to excellence and a deep connection with the continent’s sports culture [3] .
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.[4] 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.
On 4 September 2001, SuperSport moved its locations on the DStv platform. All of the SuperSport channels were now located in the 21-29 range while SuperSport Zone moved to channel 20. SuperSport International was renamed SuperSport 3, with an emphasis on the "big 3" sports (soccer, athletics, boxing) carried by the network. The interactive service, SuperSport Zone, started in May 2001.[5]
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.[6]
On April 22, 2021, SuperSport got ownership of School Sport Live and rebranded it into SuperSport Schools. Under the new ownership, SuperSport Schools will continue to broadcast the best of School Sports online and also through SuperSport linear channels bringing it close to their other content. In this agreement, the brand is expected to get a mobile app later in the year.[7]
SuperSport has 3 broadcast feeds on the African continent; South Africa, Nigeria & Rest of Africa (ROA).
Most of the channels for SuperSport Nigeria are shared with the Rest of African (ROA) Feed, excluding only 3 channels as SuperSport has catered for a separate ROA feed for these. They are SS Football Plus, SS Premier League & SS LaLiga. The Sub-Saharan African feed is divided into 2 zones, Anglophone Africa (English-speaking countries) & Lusophone Africa (Portuguese-speaking countries).
(Applies mainly in Angola & Mozambique)
SuperSport Blitz (Blitz Africa outside South Africa), formerly known as SuperSport Update, was launched on 1 October 2006 & remains undoubtedly to be Africa's premier dedicated 24-hour sports news channel featuring the latest news, features, announcements, highlights, previews & sporting events all around the world. For some hours it relays Sky Sports News live from the UK.
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 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 South African & Southern African viewers.
SuperSport Football Plus is a 24-hour dedicated football/soccer channel, specifically made for as the new home of UEFA Champions League 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 as well as Canal+ English Basic (Ch. 474) for Canal+ viewers.
SuperSport Premier League is a 24-hour football/soccer channel. SuperSport has the exclusive rights of telecasting the Premier League as well as the UEFA Champions League (For South African Viewers), and other major football tournaments. It is available on the DStv Compact, GOtv Supa Plus (Nigeria & ROA) & Canal+ English Basic packages.
Home of the Spanish La Liga & UEFA Europa League while also showcasing overflow matches from the UEFA Champions League.
In South Africa & The Rest of Africa, The channel is available to DStv Family customers, as well as DStv Confam (Nigeria) & GOtv Max (Nigeria & ROA)
Primarily showcases Italy's Serie A while also broadcasting matches from the 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
The Nigerian & ROA Channel usually broadcasts delayed as well as a select number of live matches from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as well as UEFA Europa League & Ethiopian Football matches. The channel is available for DStv Access and GOtv Plus for Rest Of Africa customers & DStv Yanga and GOtv Jolli for Nigerian customers.
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 & The Rest Of Africa (incl. Nigeria)
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 (South Africa), DStv Compact and GOtv Supa Plus [Simulcast for Select 3 on GOtv] for Nigeria & Rest Of Africa customers as part of the offering SuperSport gives
Variety 3 broadcasts athletics events, marathons, UEFA Europa Conference League, live WWE & UFC programming including pay-per-view events, and also functions as an overflow for some soccer matches from the PSL, Premier League & UEFA Champions League for South African viewers. The channel is available for DStv Compact subscribers.
With the exclusion of overflow PSL, Premier League & UEFA Champions League matches as well as live UFC PPVs for Nigeria & Rest Of African audiences, the channel primarily broadcasts Italian Serie A. The channel, which also resembles Select 1 for GOtv subscribers, is available for DStv Confam (Nigeria), DStv Family & GOtv Max subscribers.
Variety 4 focuses on grassroot sports including varsity rugby, netball, BNL, DStv Diski Challenge, SRC, as well as WWE highlights in South Africa. The channel is offered under the DStv Access package.
For Nigeria & ROA audiences (Channel resembles Select 2 on GOtv), it focuses on African sports including live football from Zambia & South Africa (PSL), magazine & variety shows as well as WWE highlights. The channel is offered under the DStv Access and GOtv Value packages for ROA & DStv Confam and GOtv Jinja in Nigeria.
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 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.[9]
As the world's second 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 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 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 is a 24-hour dedicated tennis channel showcasing live tennis from Grand Slams to the ATP Tour, WTA & other major tennis events.
Available to DStv Premium customers.
SuperSport Motorsport features live and archive content from the world of motorsports including Formula 1, DTM, MotoGP, Superbikes, Formula E, NASCAR and more.
Exclusive to DStv Premium
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 is the Portuguese-language channel broadcasting the same events from the other SuperSport channels, mainly the UEFA Champions League, Formula 1 and Premier League in some instances. It is available mainly in the countries of Lusophone Africa, but also in other African countries including South Africa.
Polo and Horse racing
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.