BREAKING. MultiChoice says that after 'updated conversations' with Viacom18 SuperSport will now suddenly show the 16th Indian Premier League from today to DStv subscribers.

by Thinus Ferreira

Following a Mexican stand-off over sports rights in which someone finally blinked, MultiChoice says that after "updated conversations" with Viacom18, SuperSport will now suddenly show the latest 16th Indian Premier League (IPL) that starts today to DStv subscribers.

MultiChoice and SuperSport shocked and angered DStv subscribers late on Thursday afternoon, when, in a terse admission, it revealed that it would no longer be broadcasting the Indian Premier League for the first time since the world's biggest cricket tournament started in 2008.

Viacom18 acquired the IPL rights for Sub-Saharan Africa with MultiChoice and SuperSport that until Thursday failed to reach any agreement.

On Friday afternoon MultiChoice suddenly changed its tune after saying it won't have IPL coverage anymore, noting that it has suddenly signed a new commercial agreement to show the cricket tournament from today.

According to MultiChoice, all 74 matches will be on DStv and broadcast live.

"Following updated conversations with the rights holder, DStv can confirm that all Indian Premier League matches in 2023 will be broadcast on SuperSport," the Randburg-based pay-TV company says in a new statement, adding that it had "reached a commercial agreement with the rights holders to broadcast the IPL, starting today".

Marc Jury, SuperSport CEO, says that "We are very happy to have reached an agreement to continue our partnership with the IPL that extends back to the inaugural event in 2008".

The first IPL match is today between the Gujurat Titans and Chennai Super Kings which will be shown live on DStv channel 212 at 16:00.

Livid DStv subscribers slammed MultiChoice and SuperSport from late Thursday when the news became known that it was over and done for further IPL coverage on the pay-TV service - especially since MultiChoice is hiking fees again from April 2023.

From a content acquisition perspective, MultiChoice and SuperSport are trying to contain and reign in costs - especially of international sports content of which the global asking prices for premium events continue to rise faster than inflation.

The IPL would have been the next chunk of content that MultiChoice and SuperSport no longer had for DStv subscribers but on Friday it became clear that someone in the IPL sports rights Mexican stand-off between the two sides who played hardball with each other, finally blinked.

On Thursday MultiChoice still called the IPL negotiations "unsuccessful", only to update it a day later to suddenly having "reached a new commercial agreement".

On Thursday MultiChoice told DStv subscribers that "Sport lovers are in for a treat over the next three months with a feast of major sport from around the world, despite the Indian Premier League not being on the SuperSport schedule".

ALSO READ: MultiChoice says DStv sport subscribers are 'in for a treat' after admitting 16th Indian Premier League is the next sport rights SuperSport has lost and won't be showing.

MultiChoice says DStv sport subscribers are 'in for a treat' after admitting 16th Indian Premier League is the next sport rights SuperSport has lost and won't be showing.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice on Thursday afternoon admitted that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the next TV sport rights that SuperSport have lost with the 16th Indian Premier League which won't be shown on DStv - but adding that DStv subscribers "are in for a treat over the next three months with a feat of major sport from around the world".

DStv subscribers and SuperSport viewers are furious after the Randburg-based pay-TV operator told them for the first time on late Thursday afternoon that it is wickets on DStv for the 2023 Indian Premier League - the most popular cricket league in the world that MultiChoice has shown to DStv subscribers since its first edition in 2008.

MultiChoice is hiking DStv subscription fees from April, with DStv subscribers asking why they're forced to pay more but have content taken away - especially for a sport tournament SuperSport has been showing to DStv subscribers since it started.

The IPL sport rights are the next chunk of content that MultiChoice and SuperSport no longer has for DStv as the company cuts cost and face increasing competition from global video streaming companies that are bidding for the same content and also not making their own studios' content available through international distribution.

On Thursday SuperSport didn't bother to issue a press statement email to the media about losing the Sub-Saharan TV rights to the Indian Premier League to Viacom18. Around 15 South African cricket players are taking part in the tournament.

MultiChoice told DStv subscribers in a late Thursday email that "SuperSport previously held broadcast rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL). Following unsuccessful commercial discussions with the rights holder, we will therefore not broadcast the IPL as of this year's edition".

MultiChoice told DStv subscribers that "Sport lovers are in for a treat over the next three months with a feast of major sport from around the world, despite the Indian Premier League not being on the SuperSport schedule. Your world of Champions still has loads of exciting live sports coming your way! Don’t miss out on any of the action!"

The first match of the 16th Indian Premier League and that DStv subscribers now won't see on DStv or anywhere on SuperSport, is on Friday between the Gujarat Titans and the Chennai Super Kings.