'IPL cricket takes precedence on the box'

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has caught the imagination of cricket enthusiasts, and no matter how much the purists try to justify that this is not cricket, the masses will continue to watch and support this format of the game. SuperSport has a winner, it's one of their best buys in recent months and they are reaping the benefits as the viewership figures have undoubtedly gone through the roof. This is entertainment at its best and all those who have been knocking the IPL will one-day eat their words like they did when one-day cricket was introduced to the international arena. Friday's game is between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Dare Devils in Chennai (4.15pm on SS2), and Saturday's there's a double header with the Royal Challengers at home to Deccan Chargers in Bangalore (12.15pm on SS2), and the Kings XI Punjab up against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mohali (4.15pm on CSN and SS2). On Sunday, the Mumbai Indians meet the Delhi Dare Devils in Mumbai (12.15pm on SS2 and 1pm on CSN) while the Rajasthan Royals entertain the Chennai Super Kings in Jaipur (4.15pm on SS2 and 6pm on CSN). Cricket is not the only entertainment for television viewers this long weekend. There's rugby in the form of the Vodacom Super 14, and the Sharks, who lost two in a row, will need to redeem themselves on Friday when they meet the Crusaders (91.5am on SS1 and M-Net). If you've missed it then catch it on the Hi-lites channel. There's a full programme of the English Premiership with the pick of the games of the weekend being the Manchester United v West Ham United clash at Old Trafford on Saturday (1.30pm on SS3), and on Sunday Arsenal v Everton (2.15pm on SS3 and SS8) and Liverpool v Manchester City (4.30pm on SS3) will attract a lot of attention. Closer home it's the weekend of the Nedbank Cup semifinals. On Saturday Black Aces meet Free State Stars in Pretoria (2.30pm on SS4), while on Sunday AmaZulu take on Mamelodi Sundowns in Potchefstroom (2.30pm on SS4). There is a boxing world title fight between Oscar de la Hoya and Steve Forbes from California (3am on SS7 and SS8) on Sunday morning, plus there's the MotoGP from Shanghai (5.45am and 7am on SS2).