Sport lovers are in for a treat over the next three months with a feast of major sport from around the world, despite the Indian Premier League not being on the SuperSport schedule due to unsuccessful commercial discussions with the broadcast rights holders (for more info, see FAQs further down).
SuperSport will early next week present a far-reaching amount of cricket, highlighting content from international readmission in the early 1990s to the modern day.
Beginning on Monday, April 3, the SuperSport Cricket channel (DStv 212) will celebrate South Africa's 50 most memorable matches with a range of highlights, interviews and supplementary programming.
Week one of “Proteas Classic Matches” will include the 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015 World Cups, the ICC Women’s World Cups (2022 and 2023) and the “438” ODI.
Live action will continue to remain a key staple of SuperSport with the imminent Netherlands tour of SA, culminating in the renowned “Pink Day” on Sunday.
In addition, there will also be the final Sri Lanka-New Zealand ODI (March 31), plus the three-match T20 series and the tour of Pakistan by New Zealand (five T20s and five ODIs).
In a first, SuperSport will broadcast the 2023 FairBreak Invitational T20, a women's Twenty20 cricket competition in Hong Kong from next week.
Beyond this immediate roster, several other big-ticket events will occupy the SuperSport Cricket channel: the ICC ODI World Cup (October), the tour of South Africa by Australia and India, tours by the Proteas of New Zealand and the Caribbean in 2024, and, late in 2024, home fixtures against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The men’s and women’s T20 World Cups will also take place next year.
And, there is The Hundred, beginning in August. The Ashes, from June to August, will also be on the schedule; so too the women’s Ashes.
The ICC Test Championship (India v Australia) in June will be another television standout.
FEAST OF SPORT
In a build-up to the Rugby World Cup later this year, between May and June, Premium viewers will have four big-hitting finals in the Heineken Cup, the Vodacom URC,the Currie Cup and Super Rugby.
June includes the Sevens, the European Rugby Challenge Cup, the Barbarians-World XV fixture, Women’s Six Nations and FNB Varsity Cup.
Lovers of high-octane action will have their fill of Formula 1, MotoGP and Superbikes.
In golf, meanwhile, there is the impending Masters (April 6-9), plus the PGA Tour, LIV golf, the Sunshine Tour and the Chevron Championship.
Tennis’ majors season will recommence in May (Roland Garros) while fans of cycling will celebrate the famous Giro d’Italia.
SCHOOLS SPORTS FANS
The all-new SuperSport Schools (DStv 216) is a channel that has changed many of the dynamics around school sport. This week, several of South Africa’s best hockey schools will be showcased at the St Mary’s Festival. At St Andrews, a national netball festival will be hosted.
The Noord/Suid rugby tournament, in Pretoria, includes a showdown between Grey College and Paarl Gimnasium, widely considered South Africa’s two top-ranked rugby schools.
This will be broadcast at 7.30pm on Friday (March 31).
Later in April, the popular Easter Festivals (St John’s, St Stithians, King Edward and Kearsney) will have select match broadcasts. There will also be Premier Inter-schools rugby and netball, the Wildeklawer rugby and netball festival, plus the Grey High Rugby Festival, Spar KZN Hockey, the Noordvaal rugby tournament and plenty more.
International football will be highlighted by the UEFA Champions League final in June - also on DStv - plus the superstar world of the Premier League and FA Cup, and the DStv Premiership and Nedbank Cup.
IPL FAQs
Why doesn't SuperSport have the IPL rights?
We submitted a bid in the original tender process and have made an offer to the rights holders, but these efforts were both unsuccessful.
Was SuperSport not prepared to pay for the rights?
SuperSport is always prepared to pay a fair price to acquire content. Fair offers were made, but the rights holders declined these. This is the nature of broadcast rights negotiations – while many are successful, sometimes commercial terms cannot be agreed to.
How about next year?
SuperSport will not waiver in its efforts to secure the best content, always balancing this need with a fair investment.
I'm a big cricket fan - what will I be able to watch?
SuperSport will celebrate South Africa's 50 most memorable matches with an omnibus of content that includes interviews and supplementary programming.
Former Proteas Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Fanie de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, and others, will feature. The intention is for this programming to begin on April 3.
How will I know what is happening in the IPL?
SuperSport will report on the tournament, particularly the efforts of the SA players. This will be reflected on various platforms, including the website, social channels and Blitz.
Does the absence of IPL mean you will be cutting back on cricket coverage?
No, not at all. SuperSport has an array of matches and big events on the cricket schedule, including the ICC ODI World Cup later this year, the tour of South Africa by Australia and India, tours by the Proteas of New Zealand, and the Caribbean, in 2024 and, late in 2024, home fixtures against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The men’s and women’s T20 World Cups will also take place next year and will be broadcast on SuperSport.
SuperSport also holds a share in the popular Betway SA20 and will continue to produce and broadcast that hugely successful league.
Other major tours by the Test-playing countries will also regularly feature on SuperSport, primarily on the SS Cricket channel, which is dedicated to cricket content.
And, there is The Hundred, beginning in August. The Ashes, from June to August, will also be on the schedule, and so too the Women’s Ashes.
SuperSport will also broadcast the ICC Test Championship (India v Australia) in June.
More immediately, there is the impending and significant visit by Netherlands, including Pink Day, which will receive big TV treatment from SuperSport.
Can I watch any other live cricket on SuperSport while the IPL is on?
In the absence of IPL, there will be significant other international fixtures on SuperSport.
These include the short tour of SA by the Netherlands.
There will also be the final Sri Lanka-New Zealand ODI (March 31) and three-match T20 series and the tour of Pakistan by New Zealand. This will include five T20s and five ODIs.
SuperSport will also broadcast the 2023 FairBreak Invitational T20, a women's Twenty20 cricket competition to be held from April 3-16 in Hong Kong. Ninety-nine players representing 35 countries will feature.