Ster-Kinekor Makes Waves In Durban

Soldierboy vs. Du Plessis to headline EFC AFRICA 33

Yesterday I attended the launch of the partnership between EFC Africa and Ster-Kinekor.

For the first time viewers will be able to watch EFC Africa live in Ster-Kinekor in HD. 

Ster-Kinekor and EFC AFRICA’s explosive broadcast partnership shifted into high gear with an exclusive event hosted at Ster-Kinekor’s luxurious Cine Prestige cinema at Gateway in Durban.

Guests were treated to an in-depth demonstration of the next evolution in cinema sports broadcasting, and the announcement that Durban’s own Garreth ‘Soldierboy’ McLellan will headline Durban’s first EFC AFRICA event, scheduled for 30 August.

McLellan made an appearance in person and announced that he will be defending his middleweight belt against Pretoria’s Dricus ‘Stillnox’ du Plessis. McLellan was steaming at remarks Du Plessis made on social media yesterday, openly daring the champion to fight him.

McLellan knows quite a few martial arts and trains anywhere between 3 - 7 hours a day.  He also adds running and swimming to his workout regime. 

Bradley Knowles, Ster-Kinekor’s General Manager: Marketing, took assembled guests through an in-depth demonstration detailing the cutting-edge, HD digital technology that Ster-Kinekor has installed in its cinemas throughout South Africa.

“Our aim is to immerse the viewer in the full EFC AFRICA experience,” said Knowles. “With our state of the art, live HD setup, we are able to give our viewers a ringside viewing experience that places them right in the Hexagon action. Our investment in the technology, together with the surround sound and mood lighting, ensure that cinema audiences enjoy a larger-than-life, front row seat on our big screens.

“Following on the success of our first live broadcast of EFC AFRICA 28 into just four of our cinemas, we have extended this number to twelve cinemas for the next event on 01 May. EFC fans around the country now have the opportunity to watch their favourite athletes at cinemas in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein and Cape Town,” commented Knowles.

Ster-Kinekor’s sports viewing evolution has been made possible due to the recent digital conversion in each of its cinemas. Substantial investment in the highest quality, live satellite broadcast equipment and a continuously tested and monitored signal ensures a stable live broadcast of all the fight action, in crystal clear high definition.

After the in-cinema demonstration, guests were treated to an open workout by Durban’s rising star Peter Nyide. He will be facing Johannesburg fan favourite, Gareth Buirski, at the top of the prelim card at EFC AFRICA 29, next Thursday night. Durban fans will be able to catch Nyide’s bout, as well as fellow Durbanites Tyson Chelin and Saxon Delafield, live and larger than life on the big screen at the Ster-Kinekor Gateway cinema complex.

"Our partnership with Ster-Kinekor is incredibly exciting,” said EFC AFRICA president Cairo Howarth. "That we’re now reaching fans in places we’ve never been seen before, such as Soweto and Bloemfontein, with such a high quality, big screen experience, is a huge plus. Ster-Kinekor is leading the way with HD broadcast technology, and we're looking forward to new additions to our partnership, coming soon." 

The following Ster-Kinekor HD cinemas will be online across South Africa for
EFC AFRICA 29 on Thursday, May 01:

• Ster-Kinekor Fourways (Johannesburg)
• Ster-Kinekor East Rand Mall (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor The Zone (Johannesburg) 

• Ster-Kinekor Greenstone (Johannesburg) 

• Ster-Kinekor Cradlestone (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor Maponya (Johannesburg)

• Ster-Kinekor Brooklyn (Pretoria)
• Ster-Kinekor Gateway (Durban)
• Ster-Kinekor Cavendish (Cape Town) 

• Ster-Kinekor Cape Gate (Cape Town)
• Ster-Kinekor Tyger Valley (Cape Town)
• Ster-Kinekor Mimosa (Bloemfontein)

Bookings for EFC AFRICA 29 at the twelve select Ster-Kinekor cinemas countrywide, are now open. Tickets cost R120.00 and audiences are treated to all eleven scheduled fights as they are broadcast ‘live’ in HD on the big screen. Ster-Kinekor SK Club, Discovery Vitality and Edgars Club movie card benefits and discounts will apply.

Avoid the queues by booking online at www.sterkinekor.com, by calling Ticketline on 082 16789 or book at the box office.  You can also secure your seats by downloading the Ster-Kinekor App on your Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone and Blackberry smart phone, to book from your mobile. To find out what other exciting promotions Ster-Kinekor has on offer, follow @sterkinekor on Twitter or Facebook at Ster-Kinekor Theatres.

EFC AFRICA 29, presented by BetXchange.com, takes place on Thursday, 01 May 2014 at the Carnival City Big Top Arena, Johannesburg. Tickets are on sale now at www.computicket.com. Book your cinema ticket at www.sterkinekor.com. Watch the entire event live, from anywhere on the globe, via online streaming at www.efcafrica.tv.