In 2021, SuperSport acquired a majority stake in School Sports Live, a YouTube channel that livestreams and provides highlights and profiles of school sports across South Africa which lead to the introduction of SuperSport Schools.
Since it's acquisition, SuperSport Schools has become a multimedia platform for the SuperSport brand broadcasting live on YouTube or the app of the same name. SuperSport has even used supplied most of their content to the ever growing Variety 4 channel.
In an interview on whether or not SuperSport had planned to give the brand a linear channel as seen with WWE Channel. The folks behind SuperSport Schools felt that most audiences would prefer viewing the content from where it currently resides.
Of course that doesn't mean MultiChoice won't think otherwise as seen these past years several channels such as WildEarth, Moonbug Kids and Curiosity are all based on online brands with SuperSport Schools looking to join the trio of channels.
As seen this past week, MultiChoice has been conducting tests on the possible channel for the brand featuring shows like 50+ Years Of Sports, Spirit Of Yachting, The Outdoor Sports Show, The Greatest Of All Time, Arena Sports and several others.
Taking to account this is a sports channel branded for children is it possible that maybe it will be allocated on channel 300. I mean the last channel KTV died decades ago and MultiChoice hasn't been doing much on that area but it's possible they'll put on channel 216.
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As for packages, SuperSport Schools operated several pop-up channels through the DStv app each of them were tailor made for Easyview. As of right now, not sure if that's the case for the this version as MultiChoice has a history of doing otherwise.
All in all, Easyview doesn't have a sports channel perhaps as a news channel SuperSport Blitz but other than that you have SABC. Making all the more sense to include another sports channel even if it doesn't happen to be SuperSport Schools.
MultiChoice has made a lot of improvements with Easyview last year following the rollout of Magic Showcase, CineMagic and BBC UKTV on the already existing Real Time, TNT and PBS Kids putting them in a somewhat better position with rivals Openview.
As the channel number is concerned, the pop-up channel occupied channels 247/8 but seeing as those were OTT numbers. My guess it will probably occupy channel 216 or seeing this is a youth channel sit alongside Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.
But honestly I think it would make sense having it closer to SuperSport as not a lot of adults even browse those sections as seen with Mzansi Magic or Africa Magic for starters and 216/7 seems ideal as 218 and 219 are technically used for ESPN.
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I'm guessing Access customers are probably relived should this the channel exist as more sports comes to the package joining the already available Racing240 alongside SuperSport brands Blitz and Variety 4 which has been carrying a lot of SuperSport Schools.
As for whether Variety 4 will stop supplying SuperSport Schools that has yet to be seen I can see them keep it as several SuperSport channels still air WWE but considering how much content would be available I'm guessing the hours will be reduced if not scrapped.
SuperSport Variety 4 in other countries have been airing it's fair share of football I think that should be something SuperSport should be looking into as Access fans just like Compact have football fans and it would put them in a competitive position with SABC Sport.
A lot of content is based in South Africa, I'm not sure if SuperSport Schools will be added to other countries considering this is SuperSport. It wouldn't be shocking if they did acquire it for these regions and perhaps try to grow the original offering in those regions.
The channel is anticipated to rollout either in the coming weeks or next month which is also a school holiday.
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