Six clubs will play each other twice in a round-robin round prior to the semifinals and championship game in the new Twenty20 competition. Starting on January 10, 2023, a total of 33 matches will be contested over four weeks.
On Wednesday, the newest sports network in India, Viacom 18 Sports, signed a 10-year contract for exclusive media rights of the freshly formed elite T20 competition in South Africa, known as "SA20," in India. In January 2023, the South African Twenty20 competition is expected to debut.
The SA20 and Viacom18 will collaborate closely to increase and connect cricket fans in India, according to a release from Viacom18 Media Private Limited. The SA20 matches will be televised on the Sports 18 television channel and digitally on Jio platforms.
"We continue to offer fans an immersive and engaging experience by strengthening our sports portfolio with some of the best cricket action through SA20," said Anil Jayaraj, CEO of Viacom18 Sports.
The most popular cricket format among Indian fans is Twenty20. For Indian cricket fans, it is an exciting idea because of the history and legacy of South African cricket as well as the popularity of South African sportsmen in India. Since the event will be broadcast during prime time, they anticipate high viewership and fan involvement, Jayaraj continued.
Six clubs will play each other twice in a round-robin round prior to the semifinals and championship game in the new Twenty20 competition. Starting on January 10, 2023, a total of 33 matches will be contested over four weeks.
"Today is a ground-breaking day for South African cricket," declared Graeme Smith, the former captain of South Africa and commissioner of the SA20 League. According to him, building the second-largest league in the world is one of the goals, and this long-term collaboration between the SA20 and Viacom18, an official Indian broadcaster, is a catalyst for that goal.
The six teams—Joburg Super Kings, Pretoria Capitals, Durban's SuperGiants, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Paarl Royals, and MI Cape Town—are controlled by organisations that also hold franchises in the Indian Premier League and other international competitions.
Viacom18 is the ideal partner to bring the SA20 into the homes of the ardent and cricket-loving Indian consumer, Smith said, since six IPL owners are developing their businesses in South Africa.
Quinton de Kock, Faf Du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Eoin Morgan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Maheesh Theekshana, and Jason Holder are just a few of the international talents that will be competing in the SA20.
