Soweto derby bigger than Boks vs All Blacks

Published on

The Soweto derby continues to dominate South African sport, with viewership figures surpassing even the Springboks’ clashes with the All Blacks.

Speaking to TimesLIVE, Canal+ sports director Rendani Ramovha highlighted the scale of local football’s reach amid ongoing discussions around the Canal+–MultiChoice merger.

“When the Soweto derby goes on you can see the uptake in terms of viewership and interest,” Ramovha said.

Sunday Times Sports Editor & renowned soccer authority Bareng-Batho Kortjaas added: “The Soweto derby is bigger than the Springboks vs All Blacks.”

“In terms of viewership, yes,” Ramovha responded.

The derby, contested between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, remains the most-watched sporting event in the country. Matches regularly attract television audiences exceeding 7-10 million viewers, with total reach often surpassing that mark when combining SABC and SuperSport audiences.

AFRICA PICKS: Football tips and predictions

By comparison, even major rugby events fall short domestically. The 2023 Rugby World Cup final drew around 10.9 million viewers in South Africa, while Tests between the Springboks and All Blacks consistently deliver strong numbers but do not match the sustained local reach of the derby.

Globally, rugby continues to thrive, with the 2023 Rugby World Cup generating 1.33 billion viewing hours worldwide. However, within South Africa, football remains the leading driver of broadcast audiences.

The 2024 Soweto derby reportedly attracted higher local viewership than the FIFA World Cup final, reinforcing the Premier Soccer League’s value on SuperSport. Stadium demand reflects that interest, with the fixture regularly selling out the 90,000-capacity FNB Stadium.

Ramovha emphasised the focus on strengthening the domestic game.

“We are focused on making sure that is the best product of local football, how we can continue to build local heroes and that go on and play for Bafana Bafana and international clubs as well,” he said.

With its reach, scale and cultural impact, the Soweto derby remains unmatched in South African sport.

FULL STORY

Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

Post by

Dylan Johnson