rpm
19-08-2008, 08:10 AM
Press Release:
The first anniversary of the SuperSport/Premier Soccer League broadcast deal was celebrated at a glittering function in Randburg last night.
The function, which doubled as the launch of the 2008/09 season, celebrated the many milestones achieved during the first year of the relationship and looked forward positively to the further innovations that will be introduced during the second year.
2007/08 provided many firsts in terms of PSL television broadcasts.
In financial terms, the PSL’s previous broadcast deal was ranked lower than 50th in the world. It is now in the top 10 of all major football broadcast deals worldwide.
Sponsorship of the league increased from under R 100 million to over R 230 million during the past season (an increase of more than 130%) thanks to additional and improved broadcast exposure.
PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza said: “The first year of our partnership with SuperSport exceeded all expectations and we look forward to bigger, better things in the coming years. The profile of the league has been significantly raised through this partnership and I am confident we’ll go from strength to strength leading up to 2010 and beyond.”
Well over two hundred matches were broadcast during the past season. Prior to the deal, less than a hundred matches were broadcast, on average, per season.
Broadcasting innovations introduced by SuperSport included an increased number of cameras at games (from as few as four to as many as 16 per match), enhanced viewing angles, super slo-mos, rail cameras, reverse angles, jib cameras, off-side lines, vast improvement of on-screen graphics, helicopter cameras and many more.
The Kaizer Chiefs-Orlando Pirates derby in Durban in November last year was broadcast to 20 million homes in Europe. The broadcast was later described by the head of FIFA’s Host Broadcasting Services as “the perfect business card for South Africa” and the country’s capacity to successfully stage the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
SuperSport also provided improved build-up to matches and deeper analysis before, during and after fixtures.
SuperSport introduced PSL TV, which was broadcast for two hours every night of the week. The show included programmes like:
• Extra Time (Mondays): A review of all the weekend’s action and a preview of the midweek matches;
• Engen Premier Soccer (Thursdays): Breaking news stories, a review of the midweek matches and a preview of the weekend’s matches;
• Back Pages (Mondays): Top journalists analysed the weekend’s action and discussed PSL-related issues;
• Love PSL (Tuesdays): A look at the lifestyles of the top players, with a focus on fashion, music, cars, shopping, wives, girlfriends, etc;
• PSL Kings (Mondays): A behind-the-scenes look at all the PSL clubs and the personalities behind them;
• Mzansi Legends (Tuesdays): A trip down memory lane with archive footage of and interviews with legends of South African football;
The PSL offering on SuperSport last season was backed by an extensive advertising campaign, with on-air and print applications on a weekly basis. There was plenty of outdoor activity, including street pole banners, billboards, taxi branding and consumer activations and there will be even more visibility in 2008/09.
The introduction last season of media, broadcast, marketing and football compliance manuals by the PSL has improved the administration and professionalism of all clubs. All clubs now have youth academy development teams, a dedicated media officer and a website linked to the PSL website.
SuperSport International CEO Imtiaz Patel was delighted with the first year of the partnership, which he said at the time of signing would result in a “win-win” situation for all stakeholders.
“If you look back at the past 12 months, it has, indeed, been one in which everyone has emerged a winner,” said Patel. “The fans have seen more live matches than ever before and the PSL-related programming has added another dimension to the fans’ viewing. The increased grants for the clubs have given them security and enabled them to attract and retain top players. The players are receiving better wages, new sponsors have been attracted to the PSL and their return on investment has been improved through the added exposure of the league.”
Looking ahead, an exciting announcement made at the launch was the fact that SuperSport 4 will in the new season become the dedicated “home of the PSL”, with live broadcasts of matches and other PSL-related programming being screened on this channel under the “Super Diski” banner. There will be up to 12 hours of PSL-related programming on SuperSport 4 every day!
In another move designed to enhance the viewing pleasure of PSL fans, selected matches in the 2008/09 season will be broadcast in High Definition, beginning with the MTN 8 final on September 21.
PSL TV, which will in future also be broadcast on SuperSport 4, has been increased from two hours to three hours every evening and will feature new and exciting programming!
SuperSport will also continue to broadcast the popular club shows – Up The Bucs (Orlando Pirates), The Sky Is The Limit (Mamelodi Sundowns), The Matsatsantsa Show (SuperSport United) and Phunya Sele Sele (Bleomfontein Celtic) – on Wednesdays and Thursdays on SuperSport 4.
All matches on SuperSport 4 will have dual commentary, enabling subscribers to follow the action in either English or isiZulu.
A super PSL soccer season lies in store for SuperSport 4 viewers!
The first anniversary of the SuperSport/Premier Soccer League broadcast deal was celebrated at a glittering function in Randburg last night.
The function, which doubled as the launch of the 2008/09 season, celebrated the many milestones achieved during the first year of the relationship and looked forward positively to the further innovations that will be introduced during the second year.
2007/08 provided many firsts in terms of PSL television broadcasts.
In financial terms, the PSL’s previous broadcast deal was ranked lower than 50th in the world. It is now in the top 10 of all major football broadcast deals worldwide.
Sponsorship of the league increased from under R 100 million to over R 230 million during the past season (an increase of more than 130%) thanks to additional and improved broadcast exposure.
PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza said: “The first year of our partnership with SuperSport exceeded all expectations and we look forward to bigger, better things in the coming years. The profile of the league has been significantly raised through this partnership and I am confident we’ll go from strength to strength leading up to 2010 and beyond.”
Well over two hundred matches were broadcast during the past season. Prior to the deal, less than a hundred matches were broadcast, on average, per season.
Broadcasting innovations introduced by SuperSport included an increased number of cameras at games (from as few as four to as many as 16 per match), enhanced viewing angles, super slo-mos, rail cameras, reverse angles, jib cameras, off-side lines, vast improvement of on-screen graphics, helicopter cameras and many more.
The Kaizer Chiefs-Orlando Pirates derby in Durban in November last year was broadcast to 20 million homes in Europe. The broadcast was later described by the head of FIFA’s Host Broadcasting Services as “the perfect business card for South Africa” and the country’s capacity to successfully stage the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
SuperSport also provided improved build-up to matches and deeper analysis before, during and after fixtures.
SuperSport introduced PSL TV, which was broadcast for two hours every night of the week. The show included programmes like:
• Extra Time (Mondays): A review of all the weekend’s action and a preview of the midweek matches;
• Engen Premier Soccer (Thursdays): Breaking news stories, a review of the midweek matches and a preview of the weekend’s matches;
• Back Pages (Mondays): Top journalists analysed the weekend’s action and discussed PSL-related issues;
• Love PSL (Tuesdays): A look at the lifestyles of the top players, with a focus on fashion, music, cars, shopping, wives, girlfriends, etc;
• PSL Kings (Mondays): A behind-the-scenes look at all the PSL clubs and the personalities behind them;
• Mzansi Legends (Tuesdays): A trip down memory lane with archive footage of and interviews with legends of South African football;
The PSL offering on SuperSport last season was backed by an extensive advertising campaign, with on-air and print applications on a weekly basis. There was plenty of outdoor activity, including street pole banners, billboards, taxi branding and consumer activations and there will be even more visibility in 2008/09.
The introduction last season of media, broadcast, marketing and football compliance manuals by the PSL has improved the administration and professionalism of all clubs. All clubs now have youth academy development teams, a dedicated media officer and a website linked to the PSL website.
SuperSport International CEO Imtiaz Patel was delighted with the first year of the partnership, which he said at the time of signing would result in a “win-win” situation for all stakeholders.
“If you look back at the past 12 months, it has, indeed, been one in which everyone has emerged a winner,” said Patel. “The fans have seen more live matches than ever before and the PSL-related programming has added another dimension to the fans’ viewing. The increased grants for the clubs have given them security and enabled them to attract and retain top players. The players are receiving better wages, new sponsors have been attracted to the PSL and their return on investment has been improved through the added exposure of the league.”
Looking ahead, an exciting announcement made at the launch was the fact that SuperSport 4 will in the new season become the dedicated “home of the PSL”, with live broadcasts of matches and other PSL-related programming being screened on this channel under the “Super Diski” banner. There will be up to 12 hours of PSL-related programming on SuperSport 4 every day!
In another move designed to enhance the viewing pleasure of PSL fans, selected matches in the 2008/09 season will be broadcast in High Definition, beginning with the MTN 8 final on September 21.
PSL TV, which will in future also be broadcast on SuperSport 4, has been increased from two hours to three hours every evening and will feature new and exciting programming!
SuperSport will also continue to broadcast the popular club shows – Up The Bucs (Orlando Pirates), The Sky Is The Limit (Mamelodi Sundowns), The Matsatsantsa Show (SuperSport United) and Phunya Sele Sele (Bleomfontein Celtic) – on Wednesdays and Thursdays on SuperSport 4.
All matches on SuperSport 4 will have dual commentary, enabling subscribers to follow the action in either English or isiZulu.
A super PSL soccer season lies in store for SuperSport 4 viewers!