PowerBall is one of the most popular lottery games in South Africa. It offers some of the biggest jackpot prizes in the country, often reaching over R100 million. With such huge prizes up for grabs, it’s no wonder that so many South Africans eagerly tune in whenever the PowerBall draw takes place. But which channel does the PowerBall draw actually play on in South Africa? And what time and days does the draw take place? This article will provide all the details you need to know.
What is PowerBall?
PowerBall is a lottery game that is played in South Africa and several other countries around the world. It offers some of the largest jackpot prizes available from lotteries in South Africa.
Some key facts about PowerBall in South Africa:
- PowerBall is operated by the National Lottery Commission in South Africa.
- To play, you need to pick 5 main numbers from 1 to 50 and 1 PowerBall number from 1 to 20.
- The starting jackpot is R10 million and rolls over every draw until won.
- Jackpots frequently exceed R100 million.
- Draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- Tickets can be purchased for R5 per board.
- You can select your own numbers or choose a Quick Pick.
- Prizes are won by matching the drawn numbers, with the jackpot for matching all 5 main numbers and the PowerBall.
So in summary, PowerBall offers massive jackpot prizes, at excellent odds, for a small R5 stake, making it hugely popular with South African lottery players. But when and where can you watch the draw take place?
What channel does the PowerBall draw play on in South Africa?
The PowerBall draw is shown live on eTV in South Africa.
eTV is one of South Africa’s largest free-to-air television channels. It is available on both digital terrestrial television (DTT) and satellite pay-TV platforms like DStv.
So anyone in South Africa with access to eTV will be able to watch the PowerBall draw live on eTV on draw nights.
The PowerBall draw is shown live during the primetime news broadcast on eTV. This starts at 7pm South African time, so the draw will take place at some point during this news program.
So simply tune in to eTV from 7pm on Tuesdays and Fridays and you’ll be able to watch the PowerBall draw unfold live on TV.
What time and days does the PowerBall draw take place?
The PowerBall draw takes place twice a week in South Africa:
- Tuesdays at 9pm
- Fridays at 9pm
As mentioned, the draw is shown live during the 7pm news broadcast on eTV. But the actual draw takes place slightly later at 9pm.
eTV will cross to the draw live at 9pm on draw nights. The draw process takes about 2-3 minutes from start to finish.
Once complete, eTV will announce the winning numbers and provide an indication of the size of the jackpot up for grabs.
So for anyone wanting to watch the PowerBall draw live, simply tune in to eTV from about 8:55pm on Tuesdays and Fridays. This will make sure you don’t miss a second of the draw.
Where does the PowerBall draw take place?
The PowerBall draw takes place at the Ithuba Studios in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Ithuba is the company that operates the draw on behalf of the National Lottery Commission.
At their studios, they have a dedicated draw machine which randomly selects the 5 main numbers and PowerBall for each draw.
For each draw, accredited auditors are present to oversee the process. This ensures everything is done fairly and transparently.
The draw is also recorded and monitored by CCTV cameras.
Once completed, the draw is then broadcast live on eTV for the nation to see.
So while you watch from the comfort of your home, the draw itself takes place at the Ithuba Studios in Johannesburg. This is done with stringent procedures to ensure a fair and transparent draw.
Can you watch reruns of the PowerBall draw?
While the draw is only shown live on eTV at 9pm on draw nights, there are ways to watch reruns at other times.
Some options to watch reruns of the PowerBall draw include:
- eTV will sometimes replay the draw during the day on draw days.
- The National Lottery website will have videos of the draw available shortly after it has taken place.
- YouTube will also have uploads of the draw usually the day after.
- News websites often embed draw videos in their lottery coverage.
So if you miss the live draw, you can almost always find a rerun available online or on eTV the next day. This lets you go back and check those winning numbers for yourself.
The National Lottery website also has an archive of historical draws you can watch. So you can relive some of the biggest PowerBall moments.
How to live stream the PowerBall draw online
While eTV is the only live broadcaster of the PowerBall draw on TV, there are ways to live stream it online.
This can be handy for people who don’t have access to eTV or want to watch on a mobile device.
Some ways to live stream the PowerBall draw include:
- The eTV website will have a live stream of their broadcast.
- Some eTV YouTube channels may also stream it live.
- News websites like IOL and EWN may embed a live draw stream.
So if you have an internet connection, you have various options to watch the live draw online. Just search “PowerBall live stream” on Google or YouTube shortly before 9pm on draw nights.
This offers a convenient way to catch the action if you can’t be in front of a TV.
Can you watch the draw at National Lottery retailers?
Many local National Lottery retailers will also show the PowerBall draw live on TVs in their stores.
So if you want to watch with other fans, head down to your nearest lottery store a few minutes before 9pm. They’ll likely have the live draw on for customers to watch together.
It creates quite a fun and exciting atmosphere when the draw happens live in a packed lottery store.
Some key things to keep in mind if wanting to watch at National Lottery retailers:
- Get there 10-15 minutes before 9pm to guarantee a spot.
- Most stores are quite small so space is limited.
- Bring your ticket along to check instantly if you win.
- Accept that it will be noisy during the draw.
- Be respectful as some people like to concentrate.
So watching live at retailers is an option if you enjoy the collective anticipation. Just get in early to secure a good view of the TV for the big moment at 9pm.
Key tips for watching the PowerBall draw
If you plan to watch the PowerBall draw live, either at home or a store, here are some useful tips:
- Tune in 5-10 minutes early – This gives you time to settle in and ensures you don’t miss the start.
- Check your ticket – Have your PowerBall ticket handy to cross-check numbers.
- Get comfortable – Settle into a comfy spot with snacks and drinks.
- Avoid distractions – Turn off phones, mute notifications, close other tabs.
- Adjust volume – Turn the volume up high enough to clearly hear numbers.
- Watch closely – Keep eyes glued to the screen so you don’t miss anything.
- Check carefully – Go slowly in checking your ticket to avoid mistakes.
- Relax and enjoy – Try and have fun watching the draw unfold.
Following these tips will make sure you have the best viewing experience. And ideally catch the moment you win big on PowerBall!
How to stay up to date with PowerBall results
If you miss watching the PowerBall draw live, there are many ways to stay updated with the latest results:
- The National Lottery website publishes the results shortly after the draw.
- Most news websites will publish the results online.
- Mobile apps like LottoStar can provide instant result notifications.
- National Lottery SMS services will text you the winning numbers.
- Social media pages will share results after the draw.
- Retailers print out and display latest results in-store.
- Radio stations announce results on air.
- The next day’s newspapers print the numbers.
So whatever your preferred platform, there are many quick and convenient ways to stay updated. No need to rely solely on watching live.
Although watching live is definitely the most thrilling way, especially if you end up winning!
History of the PowerBall draw on TV
PowerBall first launched in South Africa in October 2010. The very first draw took place on Friday, October 1st, 2010.
Initially, the draw was shown exclusively on the SABC 1 channel. It would air on draw nights during prime time around 9pm.
This continued until 2017 when the broadcast rights moved to eTV. From then until today, eTV has been the official broadcaster.
The draw has always aired live on draw nights at 9pm since inception. This slot was purposefully chosen to allow working individuals the chance to watch.
Over 1300 draws have now taken place since 2010. Along the way there have been some epic PowerBall moments broadcast live to the nation:
- The biggest ever win of R232 million on February 23, 2018.
- Another massive win just two months later of R145 million on April 27, 2018.
- A record PowerBall jackpot of R380 million in 2021.
- Numerous wins over R100 million.
So for over a decade, South Africans have been glued to their screens twice a week to catch the PowerBall action unfold. And over the years, we’ve been treated to some truly unbelievable TV moments.
Here’s to many more unforgettable PowerBall memories still to come!
Why does PowerBall only air on eTV?
There are a few reasons why PowerBall only airs live on eTV in South Africa currently:
- eTV won an open bid process to secure exclusive broadcast rights.
- Airing on just one channel simplifies marketing for National Lottery.
- eTV has the biggest free-to-air audience reach in South Africa.
- eTV was willing to air it in primetime at 9pm.
- Previous issues with draw running over allotted timeslots.
- Creates consistency for viewers.
In summary, eTV likely made the most appealing pitch to be the sole broadcaster. Their big audience reach, primetime slot and track record no doubt helped.
This approach also creates simplicity compared to jumping between multiple channels.
But there is no certainty eTV will always remain the exclusive broadcaster. Once their contract expires, rights could go back to tender.
For now though, eTV remains the one and only place to watch the PowerBall draw live on TV.
Common questions about watching PowerBall on TV
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about watching PowerBall on TV in South Africa:
What channel shows the PowerBall draw?
The PowerBall draw is shown live on eTV in South Africa.
What time is the PowerBall draw on TV?
The draw takes place live on eTV at 9pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Why does PowerBall only show on eTV?
eTV won the exclusive broadcast rights contract from National Lottery.
Can you watch PowerBall live online?
Yes, eTV and some news websites provide live streams of the draw online.
Where does the actual draw take place?
At the Ithuba studios in Johannesburg.
What to do if you miss the live draw?
You can watch replay videos online or view results on the National Lottery website.
What are the biggest PowerBall wins on TV?
R232 million in February 2018 is the biggest, along with R145 million two months later.
So in summary, eTV at 9pm on Tuesdays and Fridays is the place to watch history being made on PowerBall. Don’t miss out on the chance to win big!
Conclusion
To conclude, the PowerBall draw takes place live on eTV in South Africa at 9pm every Tuesday and Friday night.
Simply tune into eTV a few minutes before 9pm to watch the hugely anticipated draw unfold. This gives South Africans the chance to win massive, life-changing jackpot prizes worth up to R100 million or more.
You can also live stream the draw online or watch reruns later if you miss the live broadcast. Just be sure to check the results afterwards to see if you’re the latest PowerBall millionaire!
With some epic jackpots up for grabs, it’s no surprise that millions eagerly watch the PowerBall draw each week. And with a bit of luck, one day you could witness yourself winning big during the live broadcast on eTV.