CAPE TOWN – Local Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and other club fans without access to a pay channel or internet streaming may have been left out in the cold up to now, but that’s no longer the case.
From this Saturday, SABC3 will be broadcasting a live English Premier League match every weekend.
The first one on the cards is a potentially thrilling London derby between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite boasting new managers, both sides have made a poor start to the new season, having lost their two opening league fixtures.
Unai Emery’s Arsenal have a slightly better goal difference of -3 to sit in 17th, with Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham on -5 in 19th spot, so they will be desperate to earn their first points of the season on Saturday.
The next game on SABC3 will be on September 2, when Burnley host Manchester United. An international break follows a week later, so September 15 will see Man United again, taking on Fulham at Old Trafford.
The last match confirmed so far on SABC3 will be at Anfield, when Liverpool host Southampton.
SABC spokesperson Neo Momodu told IOL Sport on Tuesday that the Premier League will release the set of fixtures to be broadcast on the channel every month.
“The EPL will determine which matches (will be on SABC3). They don’t do it for the season, but rather release it monthly. So these are the matches that have been confirmed so far. Every so often when they release it, we will let the public know,” she said.
“Also note in that in our summer, the time of the match broadcast will change to 5pm.”
Apart from the matches, SABC3 will also broadcast a preview show on Saturdays at 3pm, a live build-up at 3.30pm, and a review programme on Tuesdays at 11.30pm.
Live Premier League matches on SABC3 (4pm)
25 August: Arsenal v West Ham
2 September: Burnley v Manchester United
15 September: Manchester United v Fulham
22 September: Liverpool v Southampton
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