WWE superstar Dolph Ziggler and his fellow stars sign autographs during the Make-A-Wish family event at one world observatory centre. by picture by elias chipepo
In New York
AFRICA pay television broadcaster SuperSport is confident that its live broadcast of the various World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events would be a success across the continent.
SuperSport communications manager Clinton van der Berg said the narrative nature of the WWE would easily appeal to the viewers.
Van der Berg said in an interview here that SuperSport wants to be part of a success story that would see more African athletes attracted to join and compete in the WWE.
He said SuperSport realised that WWE has a great broadcast appeal which would enable the television pay station cut across all those different lines.
“We have had an eye on WWE for a long time because it is a very interesting property-sports wise, very sexy and it appeals to a very broad demography as it attracts to kids, teenagers, youths and adults, it resonates with them well,” he said.
Equally, Van der Berg said the WWE are excited to put that footprint across the African sub-Sahara where 52 countries would have access to live broadcast of the various WWE events.
“They (WWE) are equally excited but they will have an entirely new audience and they are enthusiastic about developing African wrestlers to compete in the WWE,” he said.
He expressed happiness with the enthusiasm showed by a lot of WWE superstars who are all excited to be watched live across the continent.
“Most of these superstars said they got attracted to the sport because they watched on television and they hope they can do the same to inspire African athletes and we would delighted if we as SuperSport can be part of that success story,” he said.
Van der Berg, however, said that project would entirely be a crusade that of WWE adding that results might not be seen immediately but would reflect later and that clinching of the deal was just the start of something special.
He said the interesting aspect about television broadcast, particularly sports broadcast, was that it is so fluid especially that habits change quite frequently and people, in terms of attention spans and social media with everything going on, need to be locked on.
“Fortunately, I think the receipt that WWE has very spectacular, great story lines, interesting characters, people who touch lives affect people and are very good with their communication,” he said.
SuperSport would, starting August 28, air WWE’s flagship shows Raw and SmackDown as well as WWE specials, including WrestleMania and SummerSlam.
Channels S3, S4, S9 and SS10 would televise Raw on Tuesdays and SmackDown on Wednesdays, offering both live telecasts and same-day re-airs, and will broadcast all WWE specials live, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and Royal Rumble.
