SuperSport announces bigger-than-ever Olympics plans

[rpm]

Supersport press release:

As part of what is being called the most comprehensive coverage of an Olympic Games ever, SuperSport has announced ambitious plans of its multi-platform offering – starting this week.

Apart from 24-hour television coverage across eight channels (four High Definition and four Standard Definition), DVBH coverage of the SuperSport Gold channel will also be available on the Walka, Drifta and iDrifta.

SuperSport’s online offering at www.supersport.com/Olympics/ is the company’s most comprehensive Olympic website ever built. It will feature live news updates, athlete profiles, detailed venue information, multiple medal tables, in depth broadcast schedules and extensive video highlights. SuperSport.com will also feature 24-hour online live streaming of the SuperSport Gold channel.

DStv On Demand, available on DStv PVRs, will feature Olympic Memories and Olympic Dreams, plus daily Olympic updates. The Mind the Gap and London Calling shows will also be included together with highlights from daily sessions, plus the opening and closing ceremonies.

“London 2012 will be the most interactive and socially integrated Olympic Games in history,” confirmed Ray Moore, SuperSport’s head of new media. “SuperSport will use all available technology platforms to ensure that sports lovers won’t miss a moment of the amazing Olympic action no matter where they are.”

Included in the SuperSport offering is a new HD channel, launched specifically for the London Games.

SuperSport has also assembled a gold standard team of analysts, among them Carl Lewis, one of the greatest Olympians of all time.

He will be joined by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Homes, reigning 800m track champion Wilfred Bungei and iconic SA Olympic champion Ryk Neethling.

Said Neethling: “I’ve been blown away by the breadth of SuperSport’s coverage of the Games. This is precisely what the athletes deserve. Spectators won’t want for anything.”

Apart from the wall-to-wall live action, SuperSport will have two riveting magazine programmes: London Calling, a weekend breakfast show, and Mind the Gap, a daily 15-minute programme.

The popular Blitz channel will provide rolling coverage and live updates.

The Olympic channels will be SS4, SS5, SS6 and SS7 (SuperSport’s Gold, Silver, Bronze and Spirit channels), while HD2, HD3, HD4 and HD5 will share the same taglines.

(HD3 and HD4 went live on Monday, July 23).

These will each offer 24-hour programming, giving viewers an unprecedented level of coverage.

Additionally, SuperSport 3 will feature football on certain days, ensuring that the jam-packed calendar – 58 matches in 18 days – can be accommodated on the World of Champions.

Apart from supplying two Outside Broadcast engineers and award-winning commentator Gerald de Kock to Olympic Broadcast Services, SuperSport will have four reporting teams covering SA, Kenya, the rest of Africa and general news.

Reporters will be Carol Tshabalala, James Wokabi of Kenya, former Miss SA Nicole Flint and Udo Carelse.
Full broadcast schedules will be available across all platforms.

[Picard]

What is the likes of Carl Lewis doing here in measly little South Africa?

He has won just about half as many gold medals as SA's whole Olympic team over a number of years.