News & Media

Feel It. It's Here. That slogan is being openly used across the country yet few people realise that the national broadcaster coined the phrase months ago to get the nation excited about hosting the World Cup. And now that "it is here", the SABC has more than just a phrase to give to the South African public.

"We moved to this area in the Sandton Convention Centre where we built a humungous studio with sub-studios within it.

"At first the concern was that it was going to cost a lot of money, but it was worth it. All the guests we have on our shows live around here. A lot of foreign fans live around here and it's easier to get through to them than it would have been had we remained in Auckland Park," said Kasier Kganyago, the spokesperson for SABC sport.

The transformation came with the broadcaster creating nine hours worth of live soccer-related shows which include, but are not limited to, Soccer 411, Tjovitjo and Goodmorning South Africa. With 17 cameras shooting in high definition (HD), Kganyago's is not the only happy face at the SABC.

Said presenter David Kekana: "We can accommodate more than 100 people in the studio and shoot the various shows off our menu without moving a single chair from one set to the other.

"Our guests from other countries are really impressed by these facilities too and by how the SABC has handled them. Former English player Dwight Yorke said he brought his Armani suit just in case, but has never worn it because we have given him and other guests good suits to wear on set."

These efforts have paid off as the broadcaster is leading the viewership figures race.

"According to the figures, the SABC is being watched more than any other sports channel at the moment. Can you believe that during the first Bafana Bafana game we had a historical 11 million viewers? This is the biggest number the SABC has ever had.

"Not even the historic first democratic elections in 1994 got these figures," Kganyago said.

Maybe it is because of the HD quality that the station has upgraded to, or maybe it is the magnificent set that they have built, but methinks the calibre of the international guests is the best from any channel at the moment.

Viewers have a seemingly endless list of soccer greats in Paul Ince, Dwight Yorke, Quentin Fortune, Clive Barker, Jay Jay Okocha and many more.

"It's an honour to work with these big names. One time you are watching them on television and now they are in our own backyard.

"It is surreal and we are all enjoying it," said fellow presenter Kwena Moabelo.

Though played by men, this World Cup is getting a lot of female attention, too, and the SABC saw that coming and prepared for it.

"Don't even ask me what an offside is, I can never understand it, but if we are going to talk cute guys then yes, I can tell you of the likes of Fabregas, Henry and the entire Italian team," said Bonang Matheba, who presents Tjovitjo.

"We don't talk the technical aspects of soccer on the show, but focus on the fans more. We cross over live to the fan parks around the country and find out about the entertainment there and other soccer-related titbits that we can find," she explained.

It sure looks as if the broadcaster's presenters are so happy they don't mind being touched on this particular studio.