New channel lineup for sports lovers on DStv

Supersport will on September 1 transition to thematic channels with their long-time channel line-up permanently disappearing.

The all-new sport-specific offering is designed to make navigation and content discovery easier than ever.

Although there are channel changes, no customers will be getting any less content than before. The familiar offerings on each package will remain, but, unlike before, where content could be fragmented, the sport-specific channels will make it far easier for customers to watch the sport they want to watch.

The channels will be clearly named and for those sports that perhaps don't have their own channel, this content will feature on one of four variety channels.

"This is one of the most significant changes in SuperSport's history," remarked Gideon Khobane, chief executive of SuperSport.

"As extensive research indicated, it became necessary because of the sheer volume of sport that fans can now access on the DStv and GOtv platforms. We had to find a way to make it easier and although genre-specific channels may take some getting used to, I'm convinced that viewers will welcome the refresh." Khobane stated.

The DStv and GOtv sport offerings will now take up a single continuous block of the channel line-up.

As part of these changes, a new Premium channel on DStv, SuperSport Grandstand, will become the home of the day's most important live sport. Grandstand will curate the best live action available to Premium customers at any one time, including soccer, golf and tennis.

For those sports that have simultaneous matches, such as Wimbledon tennis or Champions League soccer, the Variety channels can accommodate the overflow ensuring all live broadcasts are on SuperSport.

Since the channels are being reconfigured to accommodate the new experience, initially a notice advising that the channel is under construction will be aired. This will be followed by another notice confirming the channel (e.g 211-The home of Supersport Rugby).

The configuration process will start today at 11.00 pm but will not affect any channel carrying live events.

Normal programming will resume by midday on September 1.