SuperSport introduces 24-hour breaking news

SuperSport Update goes on Channel 24 on DStv, which previously hosted a highlights channel. The latter, in a revised format, switches to Channel 25 on DStv. SuperSport Update carries half-hour summaries of all the top events in international sport. In peak viewing times, the programme will be presented live from the SuperSport studios in Randburg.

Oracle Airtime Sales will continue to package sport by event, explains Oracle's Supersport Manager, Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee. "The channel re-structure allows us to place commercials on all the SuperSport channels. Previously, only a limited amount of SuperSport channels had commercial capability. The introduction of the new look highlights channel and the updates channel allows us to offer advertisers even more than before. We will create packages for both the highlights and updates channels that will offer both reach and frequency."

The highlights channel (SuperSport5) consists of an extended (and frequently updated) two-hour loop, divided into four half-hour segments. It will start with rugby, cricket, soccer and the best of the rest.

If, for example, a loop kicks off with rugby at 18:00, cricket follows at 18:30, soccer at 19:00, and the best of the rest at 19:30. Then the sequence is repeated. The upshot is that viewers will know in advance when they will be able to catch their sport of choice.

A variety of top SuperSport anchors, including Cindy Grota, Bo Moseneke, Lee-Ann Paulick and Tony Ndoro, will take turns to fill the two presenter slots. In addition to instant updates on current events, the programme will also focus on logs and fixtures, results, previews and reviews.

The other SuperSport channels remain unchanged. SuperSport 1 focuses on rugby, athletics, golf and boxing; SuperSport 2 on cricket, motorsport, tennis and cycling; SuperSport 3 is a dedicated soccer channel; SuperSport 6 and SuperSport 7 are mainly used to accommodate an overflow of live events.