Independent Media, StarSat launch Bundesliga project
INDEPENDENT MEDIA and StarSat, a top digital satellite television brand operating in South African, have joined forces on a landmark content partnership to promote coverage of the popular German Bundesliga in SA. The Bundesliga is one of the most exciting leagues in world football, boasting the highest average stadium attendance worldwide, and is well-established as a favourite among football fans in Africa.
The Bundesliga has produced some of the game’s most remarkable players, including icons such as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Lothar Matthaus, Jurgen Klinsman and Miroslav Klose.
The partnership between Independent Media and StarSat kicked off yesterday with a dedicated Bundesliga focus in Independent’s flagship national morning newspaper titles; The Star, Pretoria News, The Mercury and Cape Times. Bundesliga highlights and updated match-play information will run in each of these newspaper titles each and every Wednesday and will continue up until the end of the current Bundesliga season in May 2018. The campaign will also run on the IOL Sport digital platform, which will host a dedicated Bundesliga section.
“Our partnership with Independent Media marks a critical milestone in our growth trajectory as a digital platform operating in South Africa. Such a partnership is strategic in the pursuance of our vision to deliver affordable digital TV entertainment to every South African family. The development of our content offer, network and subscriber-base, both here in South Africa and across the continent, has been driven by our promise to deliver compelling digital television entertainment to the vast majority (and not just a small elite). That we can now offer this great football league to all South Africans is testament to our commitment to providing our viewers with the very best sports entertainment,” said John Yan, chief executive of StarTimes Media SA.
“StarSat has established five sports channels (three of which are HD), dedicated to the coverage of all Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 live matches, highlights, and magazine programmes.”
“The digital satellite television space is a very contested one at the moment and it’s exciting to see new entrants coming into the market, and giving viewers greater choice and variety. Independent (Media) has a strong, loyal and knowledgeable football following across our titles and we are very happy to be partnering with StarSat to bring greater awareness and promotion of one of the best leagues in the world,” said Jermaine Craig, head of Independent Media Solutions: Sport.
StarSat and Independent Media will soon announce details of a reader competition in which lucky Independent Media readers and StarSat subscribers stand a chance to win a trip to Germany to experience the Bundesliga up close.
To coincide with the launch, StarSat is giving away 10 StarSat Combo3 decoders (with full installation) as well as several quality Bundesliga and StarSat branding gifts to Independent Media readers and StarSat subscribers.
For further information and inquiries about this partnership, please contact Sundesh Mahes at Independent Media at sundesh.mahes@inl.co.za and (011) 633-2615 and at StarSat please contact the call centre hotline on 011 582 9988 for customer inquiries.