RECENTLY, SuperSport made a huge announcement and channel alterations that left many DStv subscribers, especially English Premier League (EPL) fans, in discontent.
For the past week, this platform has been rocked with complaints from DStv subscribers who religiously follow the EPL with a great passion after the channel adjustment was announced.
What has happened is that some of the much-loved major EPL games that used to come on SS3A (available on Compact-Plus bouquet) have been moved to SS5, which is only available on the exclusive Premium bouquet which is seemingly beyond many subscribers’ affordability.
However, the flair of the Spanish La liga will unfold on the affordable SS3A on Compact Plus which was home to all EPL games.
In short, SuperSport has moved all the big much watched juicy EPL games to a Premium bouquet which many have admitted they would not afford and for the love of it, they would rather leave their wives and children home to watch from a pub.
Many say they will now downgrade their subscription to the cheapest bouquet since what they were paying for on Compact Plus in no longer there.
They say channels liked by most females like Telemundo and the South African Idols extra on channel 199 are available of the lower bouquets.
This platform asked SuperSport marketing manager southern region Marlon Kananda to explain what he and his team had done to lead EPL loving men leave their homes to catch the action from pubs.
Marlon explains:
“Hi Sam, It’s always a pleasure chatting with you using this platform.
I refer to the telephone conversation we had regarding football and some changes made on the SuperSport channels.
This season, our loyal subscribers should expect the World of Champions to showcase over 900 live international matches; an offering unmatched anywhere on the continent.
DStv Compact Plus subscribers will get to enjoy over 450 selected live matches, while DStv Premium subscribers will be rewarded with all live matches across all the SuperSport channels.
However, from this season onwards, the drama of the English Premier League will unfold on SuperSport 5 (SS5) available on the Premium bouquet.
SS5 will now become Africa’s new 24-hour home of the EPL with up to three live matches on any given Saturday and Sunday.
Complementing the live football is a variety of informative magazine shows and live programming which include PLTV Kick Off, Match Day Live, Fan Zone, Saturday/Sunday Review, Football Today, Classic Matches, Netbusters and Match of the Week.
The La Liga will light up SuperSport 3 (SS3) as the channel becomes the go-to channel for all the Spanish football league action with up to three live matches on any given Saturday and Sunday.
DStv Premium and Compact Plus subscribers will also have access to English Championship football matches which will also now be showcased on SS3 alongside one EPL Saturday afternoon fixture, an alternative live match to the one airing on SS5 plus all Monday night fixtures with studio build-up and wrap.
Supporting the live sporting action on SS3 will be highlights packages and magazine shows, La Liga World, La Liga highlight and preview shows and the Football League show.
All cup football, the UEFA Champions and Europa League, FA Cup, Copa Del Rey, German Cup, Euro 2016 and international friendlies will also continue to be available on SS3.
With regards to why the schedule changes, we have re-organised the football in order for subscribers to find the great football action they are looking for and in order to accommodate a broad range of football on the channels.
Subscribers on compact plus will not only get the EPL, but will also be getting the La liga, the championship which they were not getting
So basically what has changed is that SuperSport 5A (was on channel 205) has moved to channel 225 on the IS20 platform from 6 August 2015 in both standard and high definition.
Subscribers on the IS20 platform will have to navigate to channel 225 to catch all the EPL action whilst SuperSport 3A (was on channel 223) has become the new home for all European and International Football including the Barclays Premier League, and other European Leagues on channel 223 on IS20 platform. Both channels are available in SD and HD from 6 August 2015. I thank you.”
Well explained I must say Marlon though the question that needs answers is the affordability of the same games. Anyway we leave it there for now.
Still on the channel changes, MultiChoice Africa has again announce the launch of BBC Worldwide’s new global genre brand, BBC Brit, which will be available from 01 September 2015 on the DStv platform.
The exciting new channel is a rebrand of BBC Entertainment which will be renamed to BBC Brit on DStv channel 120 with an increased investment into new content. The channel will be accessible to local viewers on Compact, Compact Plus and Premium bouquets alongside BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies plus BBC World News, which is available to all DStv subscribers.
BBC Brit will offer premium, factual entertainment that is intelligent but irreverent and male-skewed but with broader appeal and blends expertise with entertainment and fact with fun.
The channel will become the exclusive home of Top Gear, Undercover Boss and Dragons Den and cover a rich variety of subjects: cars, science, adventure, business, food, life-changing moments, extreme characters, quirky eccentrics and comedy.
Let’s end here for today as we look forward to some answers from the leading pay TV as to what they would do on the changes that has mainly affected the EPL lovers.
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