Siya Kolisi (Gallo Images)
- A World Cup blackout has been averted after MultiChoice and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) agreed on a broadcast deal in principle.
- According to MultiChoice, 16 selected matches will be available for broadcast on SABC.
- The two parties had been in dispute after the SABC faced challenges in meeting the R38 million reportedly demanded by MultiChoice.
- For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page.
With a reliable power supply and a functioning telly, South Africans with or without a DStv subscription will have access to live matches involving defending champions, the Springboks, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
On the eve of the global showpiece, MultiChoice confirmed that it had reached an agreement in principle with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to sub-license broadcast rights to show selected matches.
“We are pleased to have reached an arrangement with the SABC in the spirit of cooperation,” said Marc Jury, chief executive of MultiChoice SA.
The confirmation came soon after the SABC had announced on Thursday that it had met the necessary requirements in finalising an agreement with Multichoice.
The opening World Cup match between three-time champions New Zealand and hosts France kicks off at Stade de France in Paris on Friday (21:15).
A statement from MultiChoice said that a total of 16 matches could be broadcast by the SABC, including the opening ceremony and opening match, all matches that the Springboks participate in, two quarter-final matches, one semi-final, the bronze final, the final and the closing ceremony.
In the event that the Springboks don’t qualify for the knockout stages, the above matches will still be available for broadcast, MultiChoice said.
According to the public broadcaster, the corporation had been in intense negotiations with the pay channel giant.
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The SABC can confirm that the Corporation has been in constant engagements with Multichoice and has met all their requirements to conclude the agreement regarding the Rugby World Cup 2023. At this stage, the SABC is awaiting feedback from… pic.twitter.com/yGYNDtuLh1
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) September 7, 2023
Earlier in the week, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa set out to resolve the dispute between the two parties in which the SABC faced challenges in meeting MultiChoice’s reported R38-million demand for the rights to show the matches.
He had reportedly engaged with Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele, as well as key SABC executives, including acting CEO Nada Wotshela, COO Ian Plaatjes, and Head of Sport Keletso Totlhanyo.
MultiChoice holds exclusive rights to broadcast all the World Cup games live in South Africa, which will be available to DStv subscribers on SuperSport Grandstand and all rugby channels.
The SABC said that only approximately 1.3 million DStv subscribers in South Africa would have had access to the games at home.
The Springboks, regarded as the darlings of South African sport and led by widely adored captain Siya Kolisi, are looking to claim back-to-back titles and become the first team to win the Webb Ellis Cup for a fourth time in the history of the game.
They open their campaign against Scotland in Marseille on Sunday. The match kicks off at 17:45.
Now, it’s just down to load shedding, currently at Stage 6 as the World Cup gets ready to start, to play ball over the weekend.