Rugby World Cup TV feast on the way

Winter is just about over and people on The Ridge will be rocking summer dresses and flip flops and making their way to the beaches. But for some of us, it will not only be the pastures and our gardens that will be going green, our blood will be too. A deep shade of Springbok green.

For those of us not lucky enough to join those blessed folk who have tickets to the spectacle that is the 2011 Rugby World Cup, there are more than a few highlights to keep us entertained this Spring (Bok).

One advance that will certainly have rugby friends high fiving each other in random acts of jubilation, is that all 48 games of the 2011 Rugby World Cup will be broadcast live by SuperSport. But what is even more exciting is that they will be shown in High Definition; every Dan Carter kick or Brian Habana try will be delivered to viewers in crystal clear picture quality. This is certainly going to make the tournament among the best and most technologically advanced sports broadcasting experiences ever.

As part of its coverage of the tournament, SuperSport will have two dedicated 24-hour channels covering the thrills and spills of the game. Supersport1 and Supersport1 HD will not only be covering the tournament, they will also be broadcasting other rugby matches. Not least of which will be local teams as they slug it out for Currie Cup honours.

Bringing on site news and expert analysis from the tournament, as it happens, will be regular SuperSport contributors Kobus Wiese, Bob Skinstad and Lady Rugga (Elma Smit). The team will be based in Auckland and will provide in-depth analysis and stats on players and matches as they happen.

What will make this such a unique viewing experience for SuperSport’s emerging market is that selected key match highlights will be broadcast in isiXhosa on SuperSport’s sister channels SuperSport 4 and Magic world.

And there’s more . . .

SuperFan
SuperFan is a daily half-hour post-match interactive show using all new media elements. Hosted by Derek Alberts and Lady Rugga (Elma Smit), SuperFan targets new media consumers who may be at the office or at home and would like to go online and communicate with like-minded individuals.

Master Plan
To be anchored by former World Cup winner Joel Stransky, Master Plan is a weekly show for the die-hard fan that focuses on the technical side of the game, with discussions focused on tactics, strategy, game plans and analyses.

Guest lined up include some of the sharpest minds in the game, among them Heyneke Meyer, Allister Coetzee, Garth Wright, John Mitchell and a number of referees.

Kia Ora
This daily show will be broadcast from a waterfront studio in Auckland and in SA and will be hosted by either Matthew Pearce or Kobus Wiese.

Taine Randell, Bob Skinstad and Owen Nkumane will make regular appearances, as will other top former internationals from New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere.

Toks ‘n Tjops
In a first for SuperSport, former Springbok and raconteur Toks van der Linde will co-host “Toks en Tjops” on kykNet on match days (with Breyton Paulse and Lady Rugga finalist Janina Oberholzer), with repeats on Kia Ora.

Van der Linde will also share on-air duties with Afrikaans entertainers Theuns Jordaan, Robbie Wessels and Bok van Blerk, who will alternate appearances.

Van der Linde’s garrulous personality will characterise the show, ensuring it’s not too serious, but informative nonetheless.

The SABC has put together an impressive 2011 Rugby World Cup package

**SABC TV will be screening 28 matches live (including all the Springbok matches) with another seven being broadcast delayed. SABC 2 will be the “rugby” channel for the public broadcaster with support from SABC 1 and 3.

SABC also has secured the services of some of the biggest names in South African rugby and their panel of experts will include former and current players Chester Williams, Elton Jantjies, Hennie Le Roux, Os du Randt and Lawrence Sephaka, current provincial coaches Allister Coetzee, John Mitchell and John Plumtree, and well-known former referee Andre Watson

Radio 2000 will be the national broadcaster’s radio anchor and will broadcast all games live, with other public service stations playing a supporting role  – The Ridge magazine, additional info from Independent Newspapers.