Sport Industry Group

SABC hires duo to bolster World Cup coverage- 17 May 2010 00:00:00

World Cup host broadcaster SABC has hired two renowned sport broadcasting executives to help bolster the terrestrial network’s extensive coverage of this summer’s tournament from South Africa which begins on 11th June.

Former Sky Sports executive producer and director of football Colin Davidson and former ESPN and ITV producer and series editor Rupert Bush have been hired by SABC to bolster the production values of its coverage the flagship football tournament.

Davidson, who started his career as sports journalist in Scotland before moving to TV, has a vast World Cup experience having covered the 1990 event in Italy, 1998 in France and 2006 in Germany.

At Sky, he worked directly on the English Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and internationals featuring England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Bush, who has over 25 years of international production in sports and entertainment, has worked in a senior editorial capacity on all types of programming from events to multi-part series, including football, Formula One, NBA basketball and World Rally.

The SABC said Davidson and Bush will be working inside the stadiums to provide a comprehensive commentary in English as the games unfold.

CEO Solly Mokoetle said yesterday that the SABC - as the FIFA World Cup's official broadcaster - is determined despite its 'meagre' resources to deliver a world-class broadcast service during the tournament.

Meanwhile, the SABC announced that it has formed a partnership with the International Marketing Council (Brand South Africa), which will see both organisations embarking on various brand activities to ensure that South Africans not only feel the event, but also proudly fly the South African flag.

The public broadcaster invites the public to participate by following the motorcade which will include, among others, the SABC helicopter, 50 Harley Davidson motor bikers and Diski dancers.