Premier Soccer League chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has solidified a long-term broadcasting partnership with CANAL+ Group executives following the French media giant’s acquisition of MultiChoice, guaranteeing undisputed broadcasting stability and enhanced local sports content distribution for South African football.
The meeting comes as part of CANAL+ Group’s long-term strategy to strengthen its local content offering, particularly in sport, following its recent acquisition of the MultiChoice Group.
The PSL is widely regarded as the most commercially successful football league in Africa and regularly ranks among the top domestic leagues globally. The Betway Premiership is currently enjoying one of its closest title races in recent years, with Orlando Pirates attempting to dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns in a battle that has captivated football supporters.
The PSL’s partnership with the MultiChoice Group dates back to 2007, with the broadcaster introducing significant improvements to the production quality of league and cup matches, as well as surrounding content such as magazine shows, documentaries, and digital programming. In South Africa, the SuperSport channels are supplied by Canal+ Africa to MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd, which provides the DStv platform to subscribers.
Khoza reinforced the importance of the relationship between the PSL and the MultiChoice Group following what he described as productive discussions with CANAL+ executives.
“The nature of the league format is such that every PSL match carries consequences and has an impact on the others,” said Khoza.
“This cascading effect sustains an ongoing national conversation that reaches across communities and generations, permeating age, gender, affiliations, and geography.
“Over time, the PSL has evolved beyond a schedule of fixtures into a cultural infrastructure — a shared national platform through which stories are told, identities are expressed, and moments are collectively experienced. Our responsibility is to curate and present this platform with consistency, credibility, and care.”
Khoza added that CANAL+ plays a vital role in delivering PSL content to audiences across the country.
“Together, the PSL as curator and CANAL+ as the premier delivery platform enable a national cultural infrastructure that is both widely accessible and deeply engaging.
“The supporters are very knowledgeable about the game and the league. They follow its every move. It is their reading of form, consequence, and the interdependence between matches that creates the cascading effect across the league, as each result is interpreted in relation to the next.”
Rendani Ramovha, CANAL+ Director for Sports Content in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to local football.
“The PSL is a key partner to the group, and it is important that we maintain a strong relationship with our key stakeholders. This meeting was a major step in solidifying our long-term relationship with the PSL,” said Ramovha.
“We have been clear since the beginning of the partnership between the CANAL+ Group and the MultiChoice Group that investment in local content remains a top priority. Local football sits right at the top of the list in terms of the most sought-after content by DStv and SuperSport viewers.
“We hold the PSL in high regard because it is more than just a football league — it means so much to millions of people across the continent who invest their time, money, and emotions into what happens both on and off the pitch.
“This meeting was intended to demonstrate the respect and admiration we have for one of the biggest leagues not only in Africa, but in the world. We also view the PSL as the perfect platform to continue innovating our broadcast offering, with the goal of constantly improving the product and delivering greater value to viewers and customers.”
Khoza concluded by saying that smaller stadium attendances do not necessarily reflect the league’s influence and popularity among football fans across South Africa.
“Every PSL match carries value, irrespective of the number of spectators in the stadium. Each game’s true significance lies in its consequences within the league,” he said.
“Every supporter inside the stadium is matched by millions engaging from homes, workplaces, public transport, and social spaces across the country.”
