SuperSport's upcoming plans for coverage of the Rugby World Cup 2015 in England include a dedicated 24-hour SuperSport channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform as well as several specialised rugby magazine shows for the duration of the tournament.
The dedicated SuperSport channel on DStv devoted to Rugby World Cup 2015 coverage will start on 1 September.
DStv subscribers will also be able to watch the Rugby World Cup squad announcement on 28 August, the Springbok farewell dinner on 9 September and the official Springbok send-off ceremony on 11 September.
All Rugby World Cup 2015 matches in which the Springboks play will come with four commentary options for DStv subscribers: international English, South African English, Afrikaans and Xhosa.
All the other matches will have three commentary options in international English, South African English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. The ITV commentary team on the international commentary audio option includes Tony Johnson, Miles Harrison, Gordon Bray and Joel Stransky, of SuperSport.
On SuperSport's RWC 2015 channel the former Rugby World Cup champions Kobus Wiese, Joel Stransky, Bobby Skinstad and Ashwin Willemse together with overseas counterparts Lewis Moody and Ben Kay as well others like Sean Fitzpatrick, Taine Randell, Nathan Sharpe, Colin Charvis, George Gregan, Paul Wallace, Gavin Hastings and Jeff Wilson will provide commentary and analysis.
Other rugby commentators who will appear on SuperSport's dedicated Rugby World Cup 2015 channel include Matt Pearce, Owen Nkumane, Toks van der Linde, Naas Botha, Robbi Kempson, Hanyani Shimange, Sharky Robinson, Schalk Brits and Thinus Delport.
"Since our first planning many months ago, our intention was always to ensure SuperSport will be viewers' best friend for the Rugby World Cup via innovation, analysis, technology and excellence," says Louwrens Rensburg, SuperSport's executive producer for rugby. "The line-up of experts is unmatched."
MultiChoice and SuperSport will be placing 26 minute and 9 minute highlight packages of every Rugby World Cup 2015 match on its video-on-demand (VOD) service, DStv Catch Up, with all matches featuring the Springboks and all knock-out matches which will be available, additionally, in its entire duration on DStv Catch Up.
DStv Premium PVR subscribers whose DStv Explora are connected to the internet will be able to access additional historical Rugby World Cup content.
SuperSport will carry 8 dedicated rugby magazine shows for the Rugby World Cup 2015 with several presenters travelling to England to anchor and cover the tournament from there.
Full English Breakfast
The SuperSport channel's flagship Rugby World Cup magazine show which will be broadcast live from London on Saturday mornings at 09:30 with Joel Stransky as anchor. The focus will be on the major weekend matches with some of rugby's biggest names doing the punditry.
Show Me Your Passport
Elma Smit will be touring the United Kingdom and bring viewers stories and insights from across Britain. Accompanied by a regular SuperSport pundit, she will lift the lid on local rugby culture.
World Cup Rugby Weekly
This one-hour show will be broadcast on Mondays and will include South African, New Zealand and Australian experts recapping recent matches and discussing upcoming fixtures. With Joel Stransky, Justin Marshall, George Gregan and Bobby Skinstad.
Super Rugby
The Monday night Afrikaans rugby magazine show on kykNET (DStv 144) is somewhat switching gears and will be broadcast on SuperSport 1 (DStv 201) and kykNET with the content which will be Rugby World Cup focused. With Kobus Wiese as anchor.
Master Plan
This show will delve into the technical minutiae of matches, focusing on game plans and tactics, with Tony Ndoro as anchor. Among the line-up are John Mitchell, Breyton Paulse, Gcobani Bobo, Garth Wright, Johan Erasmus, Butch James and Robbi Kempson.
Fan Zone
Similar to the Football World Cup, SuperSport will be reintroduce the Saturday morning show focused on a youth audience. It will be broadcast from the Studio Six arena at Randburg with a Rugby World Cup theme. With Motshidisi Mohono and Janina Oberholzer as presenters.
Boots and All
This magazine show will switch from local fare to covering the Rugby World Cup with Xola Ntshinga as anchor.
Insights
Film shorts, featuring insights from internationals like Colin Charvis, Gavin Hastings and Lewis Moody and others, interspliced through the programming and broadcast throughout the week on SuperSport's Rugby World Cup 2015 channel.
