Multichoice has ravamped SuperSport programming in a manner that will leave sports fans especially the middle and low income earners who cannot afford the Premium bouquet rubbing their palms with glee.
The pay-per-view digital television service providers say the upgrade is geared at making it easy for sports fans to find their favourite sport on DStv, will also see the addition of two new channels, SS8 and SS10.
Multichoice also said the revamp to the SuperSport offering will be will help viewers enjoy easier navigation and less duplications.
In a statement, SuperSport chief executive Gideon Khobane said the changes will give DStv customers an even better viewing experience, making it easier to navigate the variety of sports in the back-to-back channels.
With many sports events that were previously exclusive to Premium subscribers now moved to other channels, viewers are primed for field day come August when the changes take effect.
Amid competition from other digital television service providers such as Star Times—that is increasingly adding sports channels and buying broadcasting rights for leagues such as Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Eredivisie and other, DStv has found itself facing the possibility of losing subscribers.
Things have been made worse with the entrance of Kwese Sport onto the African market, forcing DStv to revise bouquet subscription downwards earlier this year.
But now it gets even more interesting as SuperSport 3 will be now serve even Compact bouquet subscribers besides the previous Premium and Compact+ class.
SuperSport 7, also available on Premium, Compact+ and Compact bouquets, will be the go-to channel for all La Liga football action. SuperSport 11 and SuperSport 12 will remain on the platform as permanent event channels for overflow live sport giving subscribers a wider choice of live sport.
SuperSport will also introduce SuperSport 8 for DStv Premium, Compact +, Compact and Family customers. The new channel will broadcast the Premier League and La Liga overflow matches, plus FIFA internationals and the IAAF Diamond League athletics.
The other new channel, SuperSport 10, will, in addition to one live Premier League and La Liga match per week, also include a Uefa Champions League and Europa League match as well as athletics, Rugby 7s and the newest sports genre growing in popularity – eSports. SuperSport 10 will be accessible across all DStv packages.
All sport currently available on SuperSport Select and SuperSport Select 2 will henceforth be available on SuperSport 9 and SuperSport 10, while SuperSport 8, which will now be available across Africa, will replace SuperSport 9 East in East Africa.
Multichoice has not given any indication that the revamp will affect bouquet prices. Currently, Premium package goes for Shs287,250, Compact+ Shs190,700, and Compact Shs121,600. Others are Family at Shs66,750, and Access at Shs38,000.
