SuperSport has retained pay-TV broadcast rights within Africa to the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.

SuperSport will broadcast coverage of four live Champions League matches each match night as well as highlights of European football’s top club competition. In addition,SuperSport's UEFA Europa League coverage will feature eight live matches, four from each kick-off slot, plus highlights.

The agreement, which will cover the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, will also include coverage of the season-opening Super Cup contest in each of the three campaigns. SuperSport will continue to air games from both competitions across its suite of pay television channels as well as on Supersport.com and via mobile.

“Not only does this deal mark further commitment in terms of programming for both competitions, but it also shows SuperSport's dedication in extending the reach of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League coverage to football fans across the region,” read a statement from UEFA.

“SuperSport is an experienced producer with an unrivalled quality of programming and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them through to 2015,” the statement from European football’s governing body added.

The remaining rights on offer aimed at free-to-air broadcasters and composed of the Champions League Wednesday first match pick as well as Wednesday highlights and the Europa League first match pick and highlights are still to be awarded in the region. UEFA marketing partner TEAM Marketing AG brokered the agreement.

DStv LAUNCHES 3RD SUPERSPORT HD CHANNEL

On Friday, 8 April 2011, a third High Definition sports channel, SuperSport HD3, will join the DStv family. This is in addition to the two existing SuperSport HD channels.

The introduction of an additional HD channel has given SuperSport the opportunity to slightly reshuffle its sports offering across the three SuperSport HD channels:

SuperSport HD1, channel 171: SS HD1 consists of a variety of sporting codes, including local and international rugby, PSL football, Uefa Champions League, tennis majors, European Tour, US PGA golf, F1 and MotoGP.

SuperSport HD2, channel 174: SS HD2, which currently shows the EPL, will be the new channel which will be available from 8 April 2011 at 5am (Nigerian time). It will feature various High Definition sports programming, including selected cricket, Bundesliga soccer, PSL soccer, Europa League soccer, tennis majors, Champions League soccer, F1 and MotoGP.

SuperSport HD3 Nigeria, channel 177: SS HD3 will now broadcast the 24-hour English Premier League channel (previously available on SS HD2 Nigeria). A limited amount of programming, particularly legacy matches will be in Standard Definition because of their historical nature.

M-Net Africa HD (channel 170) will be used for sport on Saturdays between 1-6 pm, mainly rugby but also some soccer and PGA golf. This channel will only be used in the event that the regular SuperSport HD channels cannot accommodate additional sport.

“We made a commitment to our viewers and now we are delivering,” said Andre de Villiers, SuperSport’s marketing director. “Sporting events are increasingly being produced in High Definition and SuperSport is committed to bringing more of this broadcast technology to the market. Sport, in particular, lends itself to the excellent quality offered by High Definition.”

The addition of SS HD3 brings the total number of High Definition channels on DStv Africa to 7: 3 SuperSport HD channels, M-Net Africa HD, M-Net Movies 1 HD, i-Concert and Discovery HD Showcase. The High Definition channels are available to DStv Premium subscribers who use an HD PVR decoder, and are included as part of the monthly access fee of 1,800 naira.

“High Definition channels are becoming the television standard globally. We don’t want our subscribers to be left behind - our focus is on rolling out as many High Definition channels onto the DStv platform as possible,” commented Aletta Alberts, GM: Content, MultiChoice.

Schedules are available via the OK button on DStv remotes and on the on screen TV Guide. HD schedules (for 2 weeks in advance) can also be found on the SuperSport website.


email me on satmanafrica@gmail.com

MultiChoice to add SuperSport 3 HD (SS3 HD) from 8 April - source.

Thanks to TV with Thinus,I can reveal that MultiChoice will in all likelihood be adding a new high definition (HD) sports channel in the form of SuperSport 3 HD (SS3 HD) from 8 April on DStv channel 176 that will become a new SS EPL HD channel and carry all English Premier League (EPL) matches and other soccer related TV content in HD.

According to a credible insider who then, unsolicited, alerted TV with Thinus, ''the channel will be available to DStv Premium subscribers who use an HD PVR for viewing purposes.''

While SS1 HD will remain channel 171 ''and be designated for Golf, Rugby and Motorsport coverage in HD'', there will apparently be some SS2 HD and SS3 HD changes. ''SS2 HD will carry Cricket, Tennis, PSL, Bundesliga, La Liga, Champions League and Europa League and will also include Motorsport when other big events are on SS1 HD.''

The channel numbering for the SuperSport HD channels are going to change according to this source, as a result of this.

''The new SuperSport HD feed launching on 8 April 2011 will become SS2 HD with the channel number remaining as DStv channel 174. The existing SuperSport 2 HD which hosts English Premier League (EPL) will become the new SuperSport 3 HD and will have a new channel number of DStv 176 and the channel tag will change to SS3 HD.''

I'm also informed that for SuperSport 3 HD Nigeria ''the existing SuperSport 2 HD which hosts the EPL for Nigeria only, [will get a] new channel number 177 and the channel tag will change to SS3 HD.''

TV with Thinus has made a media enquiry to MultiChoice about what I've just been told. MultiChoice says no comment for now and that the pay platform will let subscribers know when its ready to announce any new channels.

email me on satmanafrica@gmail.com

F1 in High Definition this year.

SuperSport has announced that it will be broadcasting the entire Formula One series in High Definition from this season.

This follows Bernie Ecclestone's confirmation that an HD feed will be available to all of the sport's host television broadcasters.

F1 attracts more than 500 million television viewers globally and Bernie's company, FOM, made the decision after extensive research and investment.

SuperSport will now follow suit, adding to its already-extensive HD sports coverage.

Unfortunately, F1 qualifying and practice sessions will continue to be broadcast in normal definition (SD) due to capacity constraints.

SuperSport's head of channels, Tex Teixeira exclaimed: "We're thrilled to be broadcasting F1 in HD. It's what viewers have been waiting for and will reaffirm SuperSport as the continent's leading sports broadcaster."



2011 F1 CALENDAR:

March 13 - Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir

March 27 - Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne

April 10 - Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang

April 17 - Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai

May 8 - Turkish Grand Prix, Istanbul

May 22 - Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona

May 29 - Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo

June 12 - Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal

June 26 - European Grand Prix, Valencia

July 10 - British Grand Prix, Silverstone

July 24 - German Grand Prix, Nürburgring

July 31 - Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring

August 28 - Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps

September 11 - Italian Grand Prix, Monza

September 25 - Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay

October 9 - Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka

October 16 - Korean Grand Prix, Yeongam

October 30 - Indian Grand Prix, New Delhi

November 13 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina

November 27 - Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos

SuperSport acquires rights to broadcast Euro 2012 and 2016

SuperSport’s promise of broadcasting major world football took another giant leap this week with the acquisition of media rights for the 2012 and 2016 Uefa Euro Football Championships.

Having broadcast the 2008 edition of the tournament co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland, SuperSport viewers across the continent will be able to watch the next two editions of European football’s blue riband event live on SuperSport, which broadcasts off the DStv platform.

Included in the package are also the rights for the 2011 and 2013 Uefa European U21 Championships as well as the 2013 Uefa Euro Women’s Championships.

“We are extremely pleased to enter into a long-term partnership with a major broadcaster like SuperSport. This secures a depth of top quality coverage and gives the UEFA EURO 2012 and 2016 final tournaments extensive distribution in ex-Europe, thus ensuring even greater promotion of European football throughout the world,” remarked UEFA Director of Marketing, Guy-Laurient Epstein on the agreement.

SuperSport’s head of acquisition Brandon Foot said, “The UEFA Euro Competition is undoubtedly one of the top football events in the world and we are delighted to have acquired rights to both the 2012 and 2016 editions. This acquisition is in line with our long-term commitment to bring the best sporting events to the valued subscribers of The World of Champions."

EXCLUSIVE:- SuperSport's second high definition channel will be called SuperSport HD Extra

I can be first to reveal that the second SuperSport high definition (HD) channel on channel 174 on DStv will be called SuperSport HD Extra.  I can reveal that SuperSport HD Extra will broadcast for an awesome 24 hours per day and also that SuperSport HD Extra is set to go live on Saturday, June 12 from 5am in the morning.

SuperSport's newly completed high definition TV studio and HD fixtures for the World Cup revealed.

New photos of SuperSport's brand-new, high definition (HD) broadcast studio in Randburg,South Africa from which SuperSport's 2010 FIFA World Cup studio-based coverage will take place.

Construction on the massive TV set in studio 6 at M-Net in Randburg,South Africa has now been completed and this is how it looks. I can tell you that this new SuperSport studio will also stay up after the end of the World Cup in mid-July, to become SuperSport's permanent new main SuperSport studio.

SSHD will be open to Nigeria from today until 11 July

SSHD2 (known as SuperSport HD Extra) will be open to Nigeria from 12 June to 12 July

See below the fixtures for the Supersport HD channel:-

11 June 2010 SOUTH AFRICA VS MEXICO 15:00:00 19:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
11 June 2010 URUGUAY VS FRANCE 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
12 June 2010 KOREA VS GREECE 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
12 June 2010 ARGENTINA VS NIGERIA 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
12 June 2010 ENGLAND VS USA 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
13 June 2010 ALGERIA VS SLOVENIA 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
13 June 2010 SERBIA VS GHANA 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
13 June 2010 GERMANY VS AUSTRALIA 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
14 June 2010 NETHERLANDS VS DENMARK 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
14 June 2010 JAPAN VS CAMEROON 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
14 June 2010 ITALY VS PARAGUAY 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
15 June 2010 NEW ZEALAND VS SLOVAKIA 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
15 June 2010 IVORY COAST VS PORTUGAL 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
15 June 2010 BRAZIL VS KOREA DPR 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
16 June 2010 HONDURAS VS CHILE 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
16 June 2010 SPAIN VS SWITZERLAND 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
16 June 2010 SOUTH AFRICA VS URUGUAY 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
17 June 2010 FRANCE VS MEXICO 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
17 June 2010 GREECE VS NIGERIA 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
17 June 2010 ARGENTINA VS KOREA REPUBLIC 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
18 June 2010 GERMANY VS SERBIA 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
18 June 2010 SLOVENIA VS USA 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
18 June 2010 ENGLAND VS ALGERIA 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
19 June 2010 GHANA VS AUSTRALIA 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
19 June 2010 NETHERLANDS VS JAPAN 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
19 June 2010 CAMEROON VS DENMARK 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
20 June 2010 SLOVAKIA VS PARAGUAY 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
20 June 2010 ITALY VS NEW ZEALAND 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
20 June 2010 BRAZIL VS IVORY COAST 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
21 June 2010 PORTUGAL VS KOREA DPR 12:30:00 15:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
21 June 2010 CHILE VS SWITZERLAND 15:30:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
21 June 2010 SPAIN VS HONDURAS 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
22 June 2010 FRANCE VS SOUTH AFRICA 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
22 June 2010 MEXICO VS URUGUAY 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD2 Live
22 June 2010 NIGERIA VS KORE REPUBLIC 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
22 June 2010 GREECE VS ARGENTINA 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD2 Live
23 June 2010 SLOVENIA VS ENGLAND 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
23 June 2010 USA VS ALGERIA 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD2 Live
23 June 2010 GHANA VS GERMANY 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
23 June 2010 AUSTRALIA VS SERBIA 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD2 Live
24 June 2010 SLOVAKIA VS ITALY 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
24 June 2010 PARAGUAY VS NEW ZEALAND 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD2 Live
24 June 2010 DENMARK VS JAPAN 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
24 June 2010 CAMEROON VS NETHERLANDS 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD2 Live
25 June 2010 PORTUGAL VS BRAZIL 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
25 June 2010 KOREA DPR VS IVORY COAST 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD2 Live
25 June 2010 CHILE VS SPAIN 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
25 June 2010 SWITZERLAND VS HONDURAS 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD2 Live
26 June 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 1 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
26 June 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 2 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
27 June 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 3 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
28 June 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 5 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
28 June 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 6 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
29 June 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 7 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
29 June 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 8 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
30 June 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 4 15:00:00 16:45:00 SuperSport HD Live
01 July 2010 ROUND OF 16: GAME 4 15:00:00 16:45:00 SuperSport HD Live
02 July 2010 QUARTER FINAL 1 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
02 July 2010 QUARTER FINAL 2 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
03 July 2010 QUARTER FINAL 3 15:00:00 18:30:00 SuperSport HD Live
03 July 2010 QUARTER FINAL 4 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
06 July 2010 SEMI FINAL 1 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
07 July 2010 SEMI FINAL 2 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
10 July 2010 3RD & 4TH PLACE PLAYOFF 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live
11 July 2010 FINAL 19:30:00 23:00:00 SuperSport HD Live

SuperSport will run two high definition (HD) TV channels during the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Sports broadcaster has now confirmed . Get ready for SuperSport HD 2!

''Yes, SuperSport will have a spillover channel,'' . ''It will be another channel entirely. This will accommodate all the simultaneous World Cup matches, plus any other high definition (HD) sport broadcasts.''

SuperSport is already running the high definition channel SuperSport HD (DStv 171) since December for DStv Premium subscribers. SuperSport HD 2 is what the additional SuperSport HD channel will be called and DStv Premium subscribers will be able to find SuperSport HD 2 on channel 174 on DStv during the World Cup.