Following extensive negotiations with Multichoice’s SuperSport for the sub-licensing of the 2023 Cricket World Cup free-to-air broadcasting rights, the SABC has announced that the corporation was not successful in securing these rights for South African audiences.

SABC DISADVANTAGED 

The SABC has once again been disadvantaged in securing the broadcasting rights of one of the sporting codes classified as sport of national interest by ICASA due to the non-affordable sub-licensing fees and restrictive conditions imposed by Multichoice. The Cricket World Cup is starting this week on Thursday.

This is not the first disappointment for the South Africans as some Bafana Bafana matches are not televised as Multichoice also owns the rights to televise DSTV Premiership matches. 

"This development is regrettable and the corporation would like to apologise to all cricket fans and all South Africans. The SABC remains committed to broadcasting sports of national interest as mandated, conversely this commitment will not be carried out in a manner that is detrimental to the organisation but provide a positive return on investment," reads the statement issued by the Group Communications Acting Group Executive in the Corporate Affairs and Marketing, Mmoni Seapolelo.  

REACH AN AGREEMENT

Last month the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa had to urge the SABC to reach an agreement with SuperSport to secure sub-licensing of broadcast rights to the highly anticipated 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Kodwa was quoted saying: ?I am concerned at how millions of South Africans may be unable to watch the Rugby World Cup should the SABC not be able to broadcast matches in the tournament. My commitment is to give South Africans access to all sports codes.?

He made these remarks after engaging with Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele and the SABC on the 2023 Rugby World Cup broadcasting rights which later they were granted the rights to broadcast some of the games.