Connecting athletes and fans: Discover Sport launches as a dedicated sports platform

A new dedicated sports-focused social media platform, Discover Sport, was officially launched on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) headquarters in Johannesburg.

The platform aims to give athletes at all levels a space to share their journeys, connect with fans, and access opportunities, regardless of discipline, performance level, or background. It is mobile-first, free to use, and globally accessible.

Discover Sport founder Stephen Watson said the platform was created to provide visibility and support for athletes who have traditionally been underrepresented. Disciplines on the platform range from swimming and padel to rugby, gymnastics, chess, and showjumping.

Users can upload training clips, highlights, and personal stories. Sports federations and media partners can share official broadcasts and documentaries. The platform combines user-generated content with professional sports media.

Key features include:

• Content Harmony: Integration of user-generated and professional content

• Coaching and Education: Athletes and professionals can share training videos, vlogs, and mentorship material

• Live Streaming: Broadcasts of approved competitions not carried by mainstream networks

• Short-form and Featured Content: Content under two minutes is prioritised in the user interface

• Categorised Sporting Disciplines: Continuous updates are made to the “Playbook” to reflect all sporting codes

Athletes and publishers can earn a share of future advertising revenue. If an athlete’s sponsor advertises on their content, category exclusivity may apply, and a majority of funds will go directly to the athlete or profile holder.

The platform introduces ByteBucks, a digital rewards system with a pending patent, that allows fans to earn rewards for watching, engaging with, and sharing content. These rewards are currently redeemable on South Africa’s four major mobile networks – Vodacom, Telkom, MTN, and Cell C – with planned expansion into sports ticketing, retail, and e-commerce.

A scouting feature is built into the platform, enabling agents, scouts, and managers to follow and track athletes, receive alerts, and access a centralised collection of scouted content.

In its South African pilot phase, Discover Sport live-streamed several local and international sporting events, including:

• 2025 Invictus Games

• WBC World Championship Boxing

• SA Davis Cup

• IBERCUP

• 2025 World Games in Chengdu

The company also worked directly with young athletes to improve their digital presence and engagement with brands and fans. During the six-month BETA phase, more than 1 800 user channels were created, and nearly 3 200 videos were uploaded.

Early partnerships included:

• Tennis South Africa

• 360 Padel

• Pirates Rugby Club

• South African Youth Showjumping Championship

• Boxing South Africa

• Beaulieu College

• IBERCUP

In addition, Discover Sport has launched a non-profit arm, the Discover Sport Foundation, to support grassroots initiatives and underserved athletes. The foundation has:

• Helped 52 young athletes compete internationally

• Upgraded two sports facilities

• Provided kits and equipment to eight youth sports programmes

Watson said the platform was created to ensure that athletes can gain exposure to international competition and connect with broader audiences. While launched in South Africa, the platform is open to users worldwide.