Johannesburg, 10 September 2020: The SuperSport Let’s Play initiative has really got things moving with a new 26-minute Saturday morning exercise show, which kicks off this Saturday, 12 September 2020 at 8:00am on Variety 4, DStv channel 209. This exciting programme is tailor-made for children between the ages of seven and 12 and requires no equipment or large spaces in order to join in.
The SuperSport Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge has, over the past five years, become one of the Department of Basic Education’s flagship school enrichment programmes. Over the past two years, more than 100 000 primary school learners have been encouraged to adopt physical activity as a lifestyle through this programme. This initiative has also equipped 150 Life Orientation teachers with the tools to become better Physical Education implementers and the MultiChoice Group (MCG) has invested more than R3 million in physical education initiatives for learners in the 2020 financial year.
With the cancellation of the school sports calendar during the extended nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, children have not been able to engage freely in physical activities with their friends and have been limited to what they can do at home. The Let’s Play Exercise programme will give children – and moms and dads too, if they wish to join in for a fun family activity – a well-balanced physical regime that will keep them fit and mentally sharp for when full school activities resume.
Stacey Holland, a well-known TV Presenter, functional health, wellness and fitness architect, businesswoman, travel lover and social change agent will be the host of the weekly workout programme.
“Research indicates that our modern lifestyle has drastically reduced the amount of time children spend doing physical activities that are required to maintain healthy growth and development, and this has only been compounded by the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown,” says Gideon Khobane, SuperSport Chief Executive Officer. “Let’s Play’s primary objective is to stop this from becoming a crisis in South Africa. If our children can’t interact physically at school right now, what better way to get them moving than through the sports platform that we know best.”
Sebastiana Tesoriero is a mom who has seen first-hand, the difference the Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge has made. “I’m so excited that my boy is part of this programme. The children have been in lockdown for a while and haven’t been active, but now they are happy again,” she says.
As if the sheer excitement of getting physical again wasn’t enough, each week, two children will be invited to participate on the show and there will be guest appearances by some of the country’s favourite sporting heroes. Immediately after it has been aired, the links to the show will be made available on all MultiChoice social media platforms and on DStv atchUp so that all children can access the super exciting exercise shows.
“The positive influence of sports on our nation is well documented and sporting excellence has become part of our social fabric,” adds Khobane. “By ensuring that our children remain physically fit and are encouraged to be active, we are hopefully contributing to the next generation of sporting stars who will fly the South African flag high in various sporting codes around the world.”
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About MultiChoice Group
MultiChoice Group (MCG), which listed in the Main Board of the JSE on 27 February 2019, is one of the fastest-growing video entertainment providers globally, delivering entertainment products and services to 18,9m households across 50 countries on the African continent. Its track record of more than 30 years is reflective of a commitment to provide audiences with only the best local, sport and international content.
MCG’s strong partnerships with distributors, installers and telecommunication companies, along with its well-established payment solutions, competitive pricing and choice of viewership packages continue to secure its place in the global market, while also providing solutions unique to the African market.
Its direct-to-home (DTH), digital terrestrial television (DTT) and over-the-top (OTT) solutions enable the business to stay relevant and aligned to changing consumer habits while capturing new markets.
Content is at the very core of the business. MCG aims to deliver quality content anywhere, anytime and on any device through a comprehensive video entertainment offering at different price points. As pioneers in African video entertainment, MCG plays an important role in making information and entertainment easily accessible to Africans.
MCG aims to secure content rights in a manner that is cost-effective and reflective of the diversity of its audiences. Its substantial portfolio includes award-winning local content (a key differentiator in its service offering), a leading sports offering (including production capabilities) and access to international content, which is all shared on the group’s platforms: DStv, GOtv, Showmax, MNet and SuperSport.
MCG has superior technology capability through the security solutions that Irdeto, its technology company, brings to the group. These solutions enable MultiChoice to protect its investment, create new offerings and combat cybercrime. With 50 years’ expertise in software security, Irdeto’s software security solutions and cyber services protect over 5bn devices and applications for some of the world’s best brands.
