South African pay-TV broadcaster SuperSport will broadcast all 48 matches of the Rugby World Cup (New Zealand, 9 September – 23 October) live in high definition (HD) with expert commentary, to-the-point interviews, analyses, highlights and replays adding to the package.
In addition reviews, live scoring, full match reports, video streaming, quotes and statistics on supersport.com, SuperSport Blitz, as well as the stay-on-the-ball mobile Drifta service, will ensure that every angle is covered.
SuperSport’s team in New Zealand, based in Auckland’s picturesque harbour, will include Kobus Wiese, Matt Pearce, Bob Skinstad, Xola Ntshinga, Owen Nkumane and Lady Rugga, Elma Smit, on her first assignment.
Celebrated former All Black captain Taine Randell will also be a member of the official SuperSport team, and other leading former internationals will be drawn in for the daily magazine show, Kia Ora (a traditional Maori greeting).
SuperSport has drafted in a number of high-profile guests, both in New Zealand and South Africa. They include Justin Marshall, Ian Jones, Naas Botha, Joel Stransky, Breyton Paulse, John Mitchell, [former French prop] Pieter de Villiers, Frederic Michalak, Carlos Spencer, Tiaan Strauss and Kees Lensing.
In a major leap forward for the World of Champions, SuperSport 1 and SuperSport HD1 will be 24-hour rugby channels during the World Cup, ensuring viewers need not miss a single try or moment of the action.
Select matches, including all Springbok fixtures, will be available on SuperSport 4 and kykNET with daily highlights on SuperSport 4 and DStv’s Magic World.
Commentary will be available in English (all), Afrikaans (all) and Xhosa (select). The world commentary feed will also be available.
SuperSport will have a number of exclusive World Cup programmes on the go for the duration of the event:
SuperFan is a daily half-hour post-match interactive show using all new media elements. Hosted by Derek Alberts and a Lady Rugga finalist, SuperFan targets new media consumers who may be at the office or at home and would like to go online and communicate with like-minded individuals.
To be anchored by former World Cup winner Joel Stransky, Master Plan is a weekly show for the die-hard fan that focuses on the technical side of the game, with discussions focused on tactics, strategy, game plans and analyses.
Guests lined up include some of the sharpest minds in the game, among them Heyneke Meyer, Allister Coetzee, Garth Wright, John Mitchell and a number of referees.
Kia Ora is a daily show that will be broadcast from a waterfront studio in Auckland and in South Africa and will be hosted by either Matthew Pearce or Kobus Wiese.
Taine Randell, Bob Skinstad and Owen Nkumane will make regular appearances, as will other top former internationals from New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere.
In a first for SuperSport, former Springbok and raconteur Toks van der Linde will co-host Toks en Tjops on kykNet on match days (with Breyton Paulse and Lady Rugga finalist Janina Oberholzer), with repeats on Kia Ora.
Van der Linde will also share on-air duties with Afrikaans entertainers Theuns Jordaan, Robbie Wessels and Bok van Blerk, who will alternate appearances.
Van der Linde’s garrulous personality will characterise the show, ensuring it’s not too serious, but informative nonetheless.
For more details visit www.supersport.com.
