Supersport unveils UEFA Euro coverage plans

Supersport has released their coverage plans for the UEFA Euro tournament that will be starting this Friday evening, June 10th. Below are the highlights:

There will be a live preview show, tonight, Thursday 9th at 8pm CAT hosted by Neil Andrews and Carol Tshabalala in Randburg with inserts featuring John Dykes and Julia Stewart in France. Supersport 3 will also be airing the live kickoff concert tonight from 22:50pm hosted by David Guetta.

Julia Stewart with John Dykes in France

As one would expect, all matches will be airing live and in High Definition on Supersport 3 and, when more than one match is played simultaneously, Supersport 4.


Every match will feature a one hour buildup live from Supersport's Studio 6, which will feature the latest bells and whistles when it comes to augmented reality and special graphics. This coverage will be anchored by Neil Andrews, Caro Tshabalala and Robert Marawa.

Every match will once again have four audio options: English, Zulu, Sotho and Portuguese (If you ever wondered why Supersport always has Portuguese covered, its because the language is spoken widely in Mozambique and Angola, both countries that receive the same Supersport feed like us here in SA).

Supersport has deployed three news crews across France for the tournament who will be providing live and rolling updates during their live coverage on Supersport 3 and also file reports for Supersport Blitz.

The coverage will feature 4 magazine shows:

• Masterplan: No introduction needed: Supersport's long running weekly in depth analysis brand returns yet again on Sundays at 2pm. 
• A la Carte: A show for the social media generation, A la Carte will provide a youthful recap of the week's matches as well as provide a preview of what is to come. The show will be hosted  by celebrities and feature all sorts of fun for weekend mornings at 9am.
• Insight with John Dykes: Will feature interviews with soccer legends in France. 
• French Connection: This show will see Julia Stewart experiencing the atmosphere in France and her journey around the country.

Supersport [Finally] Releases AFCON Broadcast Plans

Supersport, Africa's premiere sports broadcaster has finally released details around its broadcast of the 2015 African Cup of Nations that kicks off this weekend.

Each of the 32 matches will have four commentary languages available: English, isiZulu, seTswana and Portuguese. (seTswana replaces Sotho, which was always used for AFCONs and World Cups)

The matches will be broadcast, mainly simulcast, with the exception of when there are concurrent games, across a whopping five channels. This is to allow "all Multichoice's customers to see the matches," which could be seen as them being generous, maybe. Lets see:

• Supersport 4: This is for HD customers throughout the continent as SS7 is not available in HD on DStv's other satellite. This channel is also available in many customers as part of DStv Compact.
• Supersport 7: which is part of DStv Compact and Compact Plus outside of South Africa.
• Supersport 9: which is available on even cheaper DStv packages like Access. Is also DStv's premiere African sports channel.
• Supersport Maximo: For those in Portuguese speaking territories like Mozambique and Angola.
• Supersport Select: This channel is available on Multichoice's GOtv terrestrial television product in other African countries.

That covers every Multichoice subscriber, with the exception of the R29 Easyview subscribers, so the statement that "Afcon to be enjoyed by all Multichoice subscribers" is therefore flawed.

Anyway, back to the coverage plans:
Supersport 4 and SS4HD will be a 24 hour AFCON channel for the duration of the tournament.

SuperSport’s social media platforms and Blitz’s rolling coverage will offer viewers up-to-the-minute match updates, team news and player reactions as well as post-match press conferences.

Supersport's star-studded lineup of experts will be headlined by Marcel Desailly (Ghana), and will include the likes of Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria) and Neil Tovey (South Africa). Samuel Kuffour (Ghana), a Supersport regular, will also be a part of the panel, and so will Benni McCarthy (South Africa), whose performance on Supersport's panel for the last AFCON tournament ensured he did not get a call back for the world cup (but then again everyone deserves a second chance, even if they do not do their homework before a broadcast).

 Supersport will also be running two weekly magazine shows:
Longtime magazine show brand, Masterplan, which was used since the 2010 Soccer World Cup and then subsequently brought back for every major soccer tournament and rugby world cup, will return on Sundays at 4pm. The show will unpack the matches from a more tactical point of view and is for the die hard fans. Supersport stalwart Robert Marawa host.

The other magazine show Supersport will have will be a revival of a brand last used for the 2010 World Cup,The Harambee Show, which will now air Saturdays at 4pm. The show will focus on the fans and the happenings on social networks and also get viewers closer to Equatorial Guinea, the AFCON 2015 host nation. Carol Tshabalala to host.

Every match will be preceded by a one hour build up and followed by a one hour wrap up, where possible (if matches aren't scheduled too close together).

South Africa's Carol Tshabalala and Robert Marawa will anchor the broadcast from Supersport's impressive studio in Johannesburg while Yaw Ampofu-Ankrah (Ghana), host of Supersport's Ghana Premier League show, Franklin Tembo Jnr (Zambia) and Sizwe Mabena, who also anchor's Supersports only weekly pan-African soccer chat show, Soccer Africa, (South Africa) will be providing on the ground coverage, which will include pre- and post match interviews.

Noticeably absent from the Supersport presenter list is Supersport's Nigerian presenter, Charles Anazodo, who usually flies to South Africa to present a few games but it seems as if he will be staying home, along with the Nigerian football team.

Overall, the coverage seems decent, but not all that impressive.

Your Ultimate 2014 FIFA World Cup Coverage Guide (SABC 1)

SABC 1 left it to the eleventh hour to to announce its world cup broadcast plans for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, announcing details on a very lighthearted edition of its Sport@10 chat show, hosted by Thomas Mlambo.

Below is a list of their announced magazine shows:

Good Morning Brazil
When: Every Day at 6am (1 hour)
Hosted from a purpose built set at the SABC's Auckland Park studios, this show will give the early risers a recap of the prior night's action as well as previewing that days action. The show, with the name of a Brazillian breakfast show even though it is hosted by South Africans, from South Africa, to South Africans, is obviously modeled around SABC1's 2010 World Cup show Good Morning Mzansi, which was hosted by the then Carol Manana (now Tshabalala) and comedian Trevor Noah.

It is to be hosted by the winner of SABC Sport's Presenter search, Xoli Zondo, self proclaimed football lover Lerato Kganyago (Presenter of entertainment and Lifestyle show The Link on SABC 1), along with Andile Ncube, who is apparently supposed to keep things football focused, even though his own background is in shows like Live Amp. When Lerato says she loves football very much, she means she loves many things about it: Neymar, Messi, Spain, Germany Argentina Brazil, along with having "faith" in Nigeria. Xoli stated in their interview with Mlambo that she will be waking up at 2am every day, and by every day she means 32 days straight as she is planning on being on the show each and every day. Thomas also stated he will wake up to hashtag along with them at #GoodmorningBrazil

Lets Talk Brazil
When: Every Evening When there is Now World Cup Action(1 Hour) 
This talk show co-hosted by Thomas Mlambo and Minnie Dlamini will be broadcast every day when there is no matches scheduled. The two say they will analyse the ins and outs of soccer, with Mini stating that this will be a “Real” talk show analysing what is going down, what is fact and what is not. The show is said to not at all be a lifestyle shows, like the others areThey also spoke about Minnie's now one year tenure of being part of SABC Sport and what it was like.
They emphasised that Minnie will be an 'equal' co host with Thomas sitting right beside him, and not in the smaller role she plays on Soccer Zone.

 Kasi to Favelas
When: off days as well
Hosted by Maps Moponyane and Pearl Modiade, this lifestyle show will get viewers behind the action: the culture, the food and the atmosphere of Brazil straight from the Favelas of Brazil to the townships of eKasi. It will showcase things like superfans, though it is meant more for casual viewers, as Pearl herself confirmed that she is not a great fan of soccer but will hopefully grow. Thomas then asked her to identify a player onscreen, Dzeko, and she cound not identify him, instead thinking it is Shinji Kagawa, a Japanese footballer. The next person in the little game was Kagawa but Pearl yet again got this wrong, so the guys helped her get it right, making it seem as if she was 'mixing up her research.' Lets blame this on the lack of foreign football leagues on the state broadcaster because having a host that herself confessed to not beeing a big fan of the show is really something.

Build-Up, Half time and Post Match
The SABC Sport Studio was slightly expanded for the world cup to include a seperate area with a couch and soft seating, though the expansion is rather disappointing.

The star or their coverage will be current, yet already axed, Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund, which is not bad but is a considerable downgrade from Pele last time around. They failed to reveal any other analysts as part of the special reveal episode of Sport@10.

Their main coverage will be anchored by Tshepo Mabona, Thomas Mlambo and Lebo Motsoeli, who was heavily hyped on the show this evening as being the first ever female anchor of a world cup in South African history, which I wanted to say was incorrect as Carol Tshabalala must have anchored before, but unfortunately she did not ever anchor a World Cup game, despite being billed as "South Africa's First Lady of Sport). Considering both these women are playing a relatively large role in their respective broadcasters' plans, SABC Sport and Supersport, respectively, it could actually turn out to a race to see exactly who gets the honour of being the first woman in South African history to anchor a World Cup Match.

Overall, though the SABC's coverage plans seem disappointing, considering the effort Supersport is putting i.

Side note: Sport@10 takes a hiatus for the full duration of the World Cup.

Your Ultimate 2014 FIFA World Cup Coverage Guide (Supersport)

Below find a compact yet comprehensive list of all magazine shows and coverage plans for the 2014 FIFA World Cup across many channels that will be providing dedicated or specialised coverage.

First, the official broadcasters SABC  and Supersport

Supersport

Undoubtedly the biggest spender when it comes to world cup coverage, Supersport spared no epense when it came to upgrading their broadcast facilities or bringing in the big names

(c) Supersport

MasterPlan
When: Sundays, 2pm (60 min)

The only magazine show that survives from the previous format, MasterPlan has become a consistant feature when it comes to big sporting tournaments, having appeared as part of their coverage of the AFCON tournaments, UEFA Euro, and even rugby.

This time around, though, it is special guest host John Dykes takes the helm of the show, along with a panel of experts, including Gavin Hunt, Andre Arendse, Earnst Middendorp and Jay Jay Okocha, gives a technical breakdown of each team's on field strategy and tactics. This show is more formal in tone than other shows, as it caters more to the needs of the football intellectual. they will break down every match with the use of the touch screen, augmented realities and tactical camera angles, all from the main studio in Randburg.

Ola Brazil
When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1pm (30 min)
Supersport personality Carol Tshabalala hosts this show live from Sao Paulo and Rio in Brazil, giving viewers a rich, on the ground feel of the atmosphere in Brazil and behind the scenes happenings in this fast paced 30 min show

Insights- Live From Brazil
When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1:30pm(30 min)
Andy Townsend (from FAPLTV) and Nigeria's own Sunday Oliseh previews the up coming live match of the day and perspective into the game. Broadcast directly from Brazil.

Supersport's outdoor garden studio has been re purposed into an arena to house 2014 World Cup Magazine show #FanFest

Fanfest(a.k.a. #Fanfest)
When: Saturdays, 2pm (1 hour)
This one is for the younger ones and for those that enjoy interacting with whats on screen through social media. This one hour show is broadcast from a purposefully constructed arena at the Supersport studios in Randburg(in what has been known as their "Garden Studio') along with an in-studio audience, hosted by the likes of A.K.A and Bonang Matheba. Make your voice heard!

The "Dream team" of A.K.A, Sizwe Dhlomo, Bonang Matheba, Nandi Mngoma and Nono Cele have all joined Supersport as part of its SOuth African based team to cover the 2014 FIF World Cup as part of their World Cup Live programming block.

World Cup Live
When: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays,1pm-4:30pm 
Providing blanket coverage of all other magazine shows and its own content, World Cup Live is the name of the programming block hosting all the world cup magazine shows hosted by personalities like A.K.A., Sizwe Dhlomo, Nandi Mngoma,Nono Cele  and Bonang Matheba, along with Supersport stalwarts Crystal Arnold and Khmza Mbata, who all in turn will be joined by an array or analysts and footballing legends. The final half hour of the slot will be a casual preview of the evening's matches

John Dykes standing infront of the desk at which Supersports 2014 World Cup Match Build Up will be broadcast from

Match Build Up
When: Before Every Match
Joint anchors John Dykes and Neil Andrews who host the likes of Ryan Giigs, Dr Khumalo, John Barnes, Andre Arendse, Gavin Hunt and many more as they build up to every match of the world cup from Supersport's cutting edge HD studio in Randburg that has things like touchscreens and augmented realities as they build up to every match at least one hour before it starts (the first match of the day gets 90 minutes), analyse it at half time, then break it down post show.

They will be joined by the likes of Carol Tshabalala, Robert Marawa and Phumlani Msibi who will host things live on location from Brazil with analysts like Andy Townsend and Sunday Olesh.

WORLD CUP COVERAGE: Presenters and Analysts Announced, Includes Mega names John Dykes, Andy Townsend, Ryan Giigs

Supersport's main soccer presenters, Robert Marawa and Neil Andrews MC'd the launch event held in Durban

Supersport earlier today, 20th May, announced their lineup for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and they really did not fail to deliver when it came to acquiring big name talents. The launch of their World Cup coverage was held in Durban at the Beverly Hills hotel in Durban.



The usuals seen usually during Supersport programming will be there: Shaun Bartlett, Andre Arendse, Neil Tovey, Ernst Middendorp, Ruud Krol, Stuart Baxter, Gavin Hunt and Doctor Khumalo.

As usual, the team from Supersport Nigeria will be there: Sammy Kuffour, Jay Jay Okocha and Sunday Olis.

John Barnes, who was Supersport's "big get" for the last World Cup held in South Africa will be there. Though he was supposed to only be used for the world cup, he has stayed on for the full four years, usually flying in for the last few stages of the UEFA Champions League.

Then there are the big names. At first I thought they will cut back on big names considering the World Cup will not be as big in Africa as the last one, considering it was hosted on African soil.
But then I arrived at the logic that because they do not have to have so many field reporters on the ground this time around, they can divert the funds used usually for reporters on big names, and big names they got.
 
Firstly, they have the FAPLTV's main presenter, John Dykes, who will hold the fort in South Africa where he, along with Neil Andrews, will anchor their live coverage of the matches. This was a very surprising considering what a big name he is in Eastern countries like Singapore where he worked at the regional version of ESPN, and I am sure he could have anchored coverage for one of the networks that side, or just taken a break as he had been on air for almost every Barclay's Premier League match build up. He is not totally unfamiliar with Supersport thoug. He does maintain a column on their official website, along with the occassional on air promo he records for Supersport.

He doesn't come alone, however. He is joined by undoubtedly the Premier League's top analyst for their programming, Andy Townsend. He will join the team that will be broadcasting on location from Brazil.

The biggest name in their coverage, without a doubt, is freshly retired Manchester United Player-Coach (and future Assistant Coach), Ryan Giggs, who is slated to join the team broadcasting from Johannesburg, South Africa. The deal to secure his services must have been concluded very recently, as he is not listed in the DStv Magazine for June that is printed a few weeks ahead of time.

Marcel Desailly

Former World Cup winner Marcel Desailly of France, and former Spanish star Gaizka Mendieta are among the big-name football personalities who will be analysing matches for SuperSport as well.

 The Maximo (Portuguese) channel headliners are Oliveira Gonçalves, former head coach of the Angolan national team, Bernardino Pedroto, winner of five national championships, and former international José Luís Vidigal.


The team broadcasting from Brazil will consist of South Africa's First Lady of Football, Carol Tshabalala, PSL and UEFA Champions League coverage presenter Robert Marawa (who has a sports centric radio show on a local station that will senselessly take a hiatus during what is a peak time for sports), PSL sideline reporter and occasional presenter, Phumlani Msibi, Suprsport Nigeria's  Sunday Oliseh and Colin Udoh along with the aforementioned Andy Townsend.