A day after TVwithThinus reported on Tuesday that OpenView HD will be adding the Kwesé Free Sports channel but with eMedia Investments not wanting to say more, OpenView HD on Wednesday issued a press release saying that Kwesé Free Sports will start on Friday 16 March 2018 on channel 110 at 11:30.
Why eMedia Investments and OpenView HD couldn't say that in response when TVwithThinus asked in a media enquiry on Tuesday, but then suddenly can a day later, is mind-boggling, but as already reported on Tuesday, Kwesé Free Sports will be OpenView HD's first real sports channel, although it's very Americentric.
Packed with American sports content from ESPN, Kwesé Free Sports is a great beginning into real sports content for OpenView HD and its existing viewers.
There might also be existing and former subscribers of MultiChoice's DStv who might switch to OpenView HD for the exclusive content like basketball that isn't available on SuperSport's channels on DStv.
Kwesé Free Sports is a pan-African free-to-air channel from Econet Media's Kwesé TV that is already available in more than 27 countries in Africa and shows the Premier League live, NBA, various FIFA tournaments including the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and leagues, NFL, AVIVA Premiership Rugby as well as sport themed magazine shows like ESPN's SportCenter.
ESPN is crawling back to Africa and using Kwesé TV to do so, after dumping the continent and MultiChoice in July 2013 during corporate downsizing. In the process ESPN burnt a lot of bridges and sentiment and destroyed its relationship with viewers who will not easily trust or return to ESPN's programming.
OpenView HD says that "the demand for a dedicated sports channel on OpenView has been at the top of the OpenView viewers' requests, and the platform is delighted to have struck a deal with this dynamic sports channel".
"Sport is one of the most talked about subjects in South Africa and giving our audiences a new experience on the platform is perfectly timed," says Ziyanda Mngomezulu, OpenView HD's head of channel acquisitions.
"We have had requests for a sports channel since the launch of OpenView and Kwesé Free Sports is the perfect choice for quality sport from around the world that our viewers will love."
Joseph Hundah, Econet Media president and group CEO says "This is yet another significant milestone for us as we introduce another premium Kwesé platform to the South African market following the launch of Kwesé Play in 2017."
"This increases Kwesé Free Sports' footprint to 27 markets. As a business premised on making world-class sports and entertainment content accessible, we are proud to deliver a dedicated sports channel beaming 24 hours of premium and in some cases exclusive sporting action."
Kwesé Free Sports will show WTA Miami Masters tennis, while baseball fans can watch Toronto Blue Jays second baseman and shortstop Gift Ngoepe make his mark in the South African history books in Major League Baseball.
Motoring heads can get their fix of fast paced racing action in the Formula E, while basketball fans can watch the NBA season.
