SuperSport scores new Netball South Africa deal

Netball South Africa, the sport’s governing body in the country, has reached a five-year rights deal, from 2013 to 2017, with African pay-television broadcaster SuperSport.

Under the agreement, SuperSport will show live coverage of the country’s senior national team and the new Netball Premier League. The broadcaster will also provide coverage of regional championships, club championships, the Fast Net series, the Netball Mania festival, and national school and university championships, according to the SAPA press agency.

“We have been looking for a broadcasting partner who will shape the code of netball in South Africa,” the governing body’s president, Mimi Mthethwa, said. “Our objectives are to surround ourselves with the best stakeholders and help them become an even more professional organisation both on and off the field. SuperSport obviously fulfils this objective and will present us in the best possible light.”

SuperSport chief executive Happy Ntshingila added: “With its massive numbers and competitive nature, netball has much going for it. We hope that with our broadcast investment we can help take the sport to another level.”