The SABC has secured the rights to a free-to-air package deal to broadcast the Premier League this coming season, starting with Saturday afternoon’s match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The South African broadcaster has partnered with rights holders, Infront, and will broadcast one live Premier League match every Saturday at 3pm.
The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday night, when former champions Manchester United take on Fulham at Old Trafford.
SuperSport are still the main rights holder for all Premier League matches, with their digital platform Showmax also having a package to view all the action.
As part of their deal, the SABC will broadcast 33 live Premier League matches on S3 and their digital platforms, which include www.sabcsport.com and SABC+.
SABC Sport will be the primary broadcast platform for the live presentation of matches with SABC 3, www.sabcsport.com and SABC+ also carrying the games live simultaneously.
In a statement, the SABC says this is in line with SABC Sport’s strategic objective of making the “world’s greatest football league available to all audiences”.
All 33 live matches will include a live studio build up, with match previews and latest team and player news, presented by SABC Sport anchors and analysts, both on TV and digital platforms.
“The acquisition of the league has always been a strategic direction of the SABC. The English Premier League creates various marketing opportunities for the SABC Sport and other SABC brands,” said the SABC’s Head of Sport Keletso Totlhanyo.
“We see this as an opportunity to create a sense of euphoria for South Africans everywhere and we look forward to a long-lasting partnership with the Premier League”.
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