DStv SuperSport Cuts Afrikaans Commentary Amid Subscriber Losses
- DStv’s SuperSport has stopped offering Afrikaans commentary for key sports broadcasts, sparking backlash from viewers
- The decision comes amid Canal+’s takeover of MultiChoice and ongoing changes affecting local content and services
- The move has raised concerns about the future of Afrikaans-language coverage and loyalty among South African sports fans
Sports fans in South Africa are in for a rude awakening after DStv's SuperSport pulled the plug on Afrikaans commentary, a move that has sent tongues wagging.
Source: Getty Images
Since MultiChoice was sold to the French company Canal+, it has been one change after another for the once-loved South African multi-channel satellite television service.
The new era under Canal+ has experienced several teething problems, from SuperSport’s failure to air the 2026 Winter Olympics to the discontinuation of the Showmax app. These changes have raised fears among sports fans and left many wondering if things will ever be the same again on DStv.
The latest move to cut Afrikaans commentary on sports is set to be another blow for subscribers. According to the 2022 National Census, approximately 6.5 million people in South Africa are first-language Afrikaans speakers.
DON'T MISS IT: Stay Away From Fake News With Our Short, Free Fact-Checking Course. Join And Get Certified!
Afrikaans commentary missing from key cricket broadcasts
MyBroadband reports that Afrikaans commentary has been conspicuously absent during important games in the recent SA20 cricket tournament and several cricket events broadcast before that. Speaking to MyBroadband, Pieter Jordaan, head of news and publicity at Solidarity, expressed his disappointment:
“Without any public consultation, a decision was made that the only commentary language for the tour would be English,” Jordaan said.
Jordaan pressed SuperSport on who exactly, within the wider Canal+ structure, had greenlit the decision to scrap Afrikaans commentary, especially given that Canal+ executives had repeatedly promised a focus on local content.
“They’ve said their strategy is all about investing more in local productions and strengthening ties with local audiences,” he noted.
David Mignot, CEO of Canal+ Africa, has been clear before: cutting Afrikaans or Zulu content does not make sense.
“It would be counterproductive, plain and simple. That’s not on the cards,” Mignot said.
Still, concerns persist that Canal+ might quietly replace homegrown series and films with international shows dubbed into local languages, leaving viewers questioning whether promises of local investment are more talk than action. There is no official statement from SuperSport or MultiChoice confirming a formal, blanket removal of all Afrikaans sports commentary across every event.
As seen in the tweet below:
Update from CashNSport
According to CashNSport, Afrikaans commentary was not deliberately cut for the South Africa tour of New Zealand. The broadcast used the standard international English feed, and SuperSport did not run a full local production, so no alternative languages, including isiXhosa, were available.
The main reason, they report, was the low viewership, with fewer than 150,000 people tuning in. When SuperSport does offer alternative language commentary, it is usually bundled such as with URC rugby, where Afrikaans and isiXhosa are available but even then, it is primarily for matches involving South African teams and is not guaranteed for every game.
As seen in the post below on X:
Springboks fans will be monitoring their screens closely once international rugby resumes in July to see if there will be Afrikaans commentary during the matches.
Source: Getty Images
Dstv agrees with SA Rugby on a deal
Briefly News previously reported that DStv subscribers in South Africa can expect an upgraded rugby viewing experience after fresh talks between MultiChoice’s new owner Canal+, SA Rugby and SuperSport in Johannesburg.
The meeting, held at MultiChoice headquarters in Randburg, brought together key stakeholders to align on the future of rugby broadcasting.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
