SuperSport has announced that the SS channels are switching-up bigtime from
Tuesday, 1 September 2020 with new channel names, linked to a new themed set-up.
Channels have always been vaguely themed but there's going to be a much stronger emphasis on themed groupings of sports with titles to match.
According to SuperSport, they've decided to make these changes because their market research has shown that fans would prefer to watch their favourite sport on a dedicated, named channel.
As you'll see, they've also added a new Premium flagship channel called SuperSport Grandstand for headline live sporting attractions.
Here's an info. pack of everything you need to know about the framework for viewers in South Africa, followed by FAQs, answered by SuperSport:
| Channel name |
Channel Number |
Sports |
Packages
(up to) |
| Blitz |
200 |
24-hour sports news and highlights. |
Access |
| Grandstand |
201 |
Best of any live sport on SuperSport. |
Premium |
| PSL |
202 |
Home of PSL and other local football. |
Compact |
| Premier League |
203 |
Home of the Premier League, also includes first choice UCL, UEL, international games. |
Compact |
| La Liga |
204 |
Home of La Liga, includes additional UCL, UEL, international games. |
Family |
| Football |
205 |
Serie A, plus additional Premier League, UCL, UEL, international games. |
Family |
| Variety 1 |
206 |
Cycling, swimming, any additional golf, cricket, tennis, rugby and football. |
Compact Plus |
| Variety 2 |
207 |
Gymnastics, squash, sailing, hockney, plus any additional footage. |
Compact Plus |
| Variety 3 |
208 |
Athletics,marathons,WWE live, PSL plus any additional football. |
Compact |
| Variety 4 |
209 |
Local sport: netball, schools rugby, Currie Cup, test matches, international Sevens etc. |
Access |
| Action |
210 |
Adrenalin sports, UFC, EFC, boxing, any additional rugby, cricket, tennis, motorsport. |
Compact Plus |
| Rugby |
211 |
Home of rugby (Springboks, Super Rugby, Varsity Sports, Currie Cup, Test matches, International Sevens etc.) |
Premium |
| Cricket |
212 |
Home of cricket (Proteas, ICC events, international cricket, IPL etc.) |
Premium |
| Golf |
213 |
Home of golf (Majors, PGA Tour, European Tour, Sunshine Tour etc.) |
Premium |
| Tennis |
214 |
Home of Tennis (Grand slams, ATP 1000s,500s etc.) |
Premium |
| Motorsport |
215 |
Home of F1 (Moto GP, Superbikes, Supercars, Formula E etc.) |
Premium |
| WWE |
236 |
Home of all WWE live events including RAW, SmackDown, WrestleMania and SummerSlam. |
Compact |
| Maximo 1 |
241 |
Portuguese language channel featuring Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Major Boxing, UFC, F1 and Moto GP. |
Premium |
| ESPN |
218 |
Live matches and programming from a number of European and African football leagues, matches, stars and athletes. |
Compact |
| ESPN2 |
219 |
America’s top sporting leagues such as the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB. |
Compact Plus |
FAQs
Why are the channels being renamed and why is my favourite sport moving to a different channel number?
The changes promise easier navigation and an easier viewing experience.
SuperSport broadcasts more live sport than any other broadcaster in the world, and as much as all these options are incredibly valuable to fans, the sheer depth and breadth of content can make it difficult to find what they’re looking for.
Fans of rugby, cricket, English Premier League and PSL are used to finding their favourite sport on specific channels, but other sporting codes tend to be broadcast on different channels, depending on the time and day.
Exhaustive market research has also shown that sports fans would find it easier to enjoy the sport of their choice on a dedicated, named channel.
As a lower-tier DStv customer, will I now see less sport?
No, the broad content offering remains the same. None of the packages will be worse off. In fact, it will make your viewing experience much better by giving you a clear understanding of what content you will receive on the channel.
What is the new Grandstand channel?
A new Premium channel, SuperSport Grandstand, will become the home of the day’s most important live sport.
What this means is that Grandstand will host the best of any live sport available to the Premium customers at any one time, including rugby, cricket, golf and tennis, which will be found on this channel.
Grandstand will be hosted in studio on weekends.
Why have rugby and cricket been moved so far out, to channels 211 and 212?
This was done to align the channels across the entire African continent and ensure consistency across all markets.
There is no less focus whatsoever on these channels. It does also allow for all the Premium channels to be grouped together between 211 and 215.
Please remember that the best of any rugby and cricket will also be found on SuperSport Grandstand on channel 201.
Where can I watch Champions League?
The first choice UCL game will be on the Premier League channel (203).
Additional games will be catered for as follows:
• Variety 1 (206)
• Variety 2 (207)
• PSL (202)
• Football (205)
• LaLiga (204)
Why does cycling not have its own dedicated channel?
We don’t have enough content for cycling to have its own dedicated channel. However, cycling will be scheduled consistently on Variety 1, so it will have a consistent channel where cycling fans will be able to find the content.
The major cycling events like the Grand Tours will also likely be broadcast on SuperSport Grandstand.
Now that you’ve got specific sport channels, will I be able to buy just what I want?
No. Our packages will remain the same in terms of Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family & Access. Our aim is to provide our customers with the best in entertainment, at affordable prices.
To make our service cost effective, DStv channels are bundled into packages so we can spread the costs across these.
What if my chosen sport has two or three live matches on simultaneously?
There aren't many instances where more than two or three matches take place at the same time in the same league.
However, when this does occur, the Variety channels can accommodate the overflow ensuring all live broadcasts are on SuperSport.
Are the channels 24 hours/day?
Yes.
I am a Premium subscriber - will I be losing any content?
No, only the channel identities will change to the thematic genre. Also, the addition of the Grandstand Channel as well as the recent addition of two live ESPN channels on DStv ensures a greater breadth of sport content than ever before.
We have listened to feedback from our customers in implementing these changes to make it easier to find what you would like to watch.
As a Compact Plus subscriber, how will the changes affect me?
There is no change to the number of channels you receive. We are now simply making it easier for you to find the sport that you want to watch.
The number of sport channels (13) remains as before. Only the channel identities will change to the new thematic genre.
In this instance, you currently receive the following channels: Blitz, SS3, SS4, SS7, SS8, SS9, SS10, SS11 (Pop up channel), SS12 (Pop up channel), SS13 (Pop up channel), ESPN 1, ESPN 2 and WWE.
These channels will be collectively renamed Blitz, the PSL channel, the Premier League Channel, the LaLiga channel, the Football channel, Variety 1, Variety 2, Variety 3, Variety 4, Action, ESPN 1, ESPN 2 and the WWE channel.
As a Compact subscriber, how will the changes affect me?
There is no change to the number of channels you receive. We are now simply making it easier for you to find the sport that you want to watch.
The number of sport channels (9) remains the same as before. Only the channel identities will change to the new thematic genre.
In this instance, existing channels Blitz, SS3, SS4, SS7, SS9, SS10, SS11 (Pop up), ESPN 1 and WWE will be collectively renamed Blitz, the PSL channel, the EPL channel, the LaLiga channel, the Football channel, Variety 3,Variety 4, ESPN 1 and the WWE channel.
As a Family subscriber, how will the changes affect me?
There is no change to the number of channels you receive. We are now simply making it easier for you to find the sport that you want to watch.
The number of sport channels (5) remains as before. Only the channel identities will change to the new thematic genre.
In this instance, existing channels Blitz, SS7, SS9, SS10 and WWE will be collectively renamed Blitz, the LaLiga channel, the Football channel, Variety 4 and the WWE channel.
As an Access subscriber, how will the changes affect me?
There is no change to the number of channels you receive. We are now simply making it easier for you to find the sport that you want to watch.
The number of sport channels (2) remains as before. Only the channel identities will change to the new thematic genre. In this instance, existing channels Blitz and SS10 will be collectively renamed Blitz and Variety 4.