Hisense TVs get a free sports channel with no extra app
JOHANNESBURG — South African viewers with compatible Hisense Smart TVs can now access a free, round-the-clock sports channel offering news, highlights and selected live events without taking out another subscription.
SportsCast Africa has joined the TV Channels service on the VIDAA operating system, according to an announcement issued on Tuesday. Viewers can find it on channel 5208 through the television’s on-screen channel guide.
Access requires an internet-connected, VIDAA-enabled Hisense television. No separate app download, account registration or sign-in is required, although viewers will still need internet connectivity and sufficient data to stream the service. The rollout covers sub-Saharan Africa and extends the distribution of SportsCast Africa, which is operated by Broadsmart.
Its schedule includes African and international football, rugby, motorsport, basketball and tennis. Daily programmes include Football Daily, Soccer Highlights and SportsWrap, alongside motorsport show Pole Position, basketball programme Slam Dunk and tennis show Cross Court.
Live matches and events will be added to the schedule throughout the year. However, the announcement did not identify specific competitions or provide a confirmed live-event calendar. Viewers should therefore check the programme guide for the events available rather than assume the channel carries particular leagues or tournaments.
For households watching their entertainment budgets, the immediate benefit is access to an additional sports service without a monthly channel fee. Its mix of news, highlights and live coverage will determine how useful it becomes to fans following different sporting codes.
Broadsmart managing director Yokow Quansah said the agreement would make the channel easier to find on televisions already used by its audience.
“Our promise is simple: great sport, whenever and wherever you want it, free and with nothing to install,” he said.
According to Broadsmart, Hisense devices already account for the majority of SportsCast Africa’s connected-TV viewing. Adding the channel directly to the platform’s line-up removes the need for viewers to locate it through a separate application.
The service will appear alongside other free channels, with programme information and artwork in the on-screen guide. The announcement says it becomes available automatically on supported devices connected to the internet.
The launch also coincides with Hisense’s 30th anniversary in South Africa. The company said it entered the local market in 1996 and subsequently expanded into manufacturing. Hisense South Africa deputy general manager Luna Nortje described the addition as a way of recognising customers who have supported the brand.
“It means the people who have supported us can enjoy the sport they love without paying extra for it,” she said.
The compatibility requirement remains important: the announced service is for VIDAA-enabled Hisense Smart TVs, rather than every television carrying the Hisense name. The release did not provide a model-by-model compatibility list or specify a minimum operating-system version.
SportsCast Africa will also remain available through its existing distribution platforms as Broadsmart pursues further connected-TV carriage in the region.
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