Despite taking very long to sign the broadcasting rights it now would seem as if the SABC - and possibly even e.tv - which both will be broadcasting the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday 29 April, actually got those broadcasting rights for free.
While M-Net as a pay broadcaster didn't try to acquire the rights (meaning South African viewers won't be able to see the wedding in high definition), SABC3 and e.tv as local broadcasters did acquire the rights (and will be showing it in standard definition). But did they pay the ''nominal fee'' for it that the BBC said it's charging for the rights, or did they actually get it for free?
The trade publication Variety now quotes the BBC which says that BBC Worldwide has licensed the live feed of the Royal Wedding on 29 April to 40 broadcasters in 25 territories who are paying. The BBC however also licensed the Royal Wedding broadcast to 61 public broadcasters of the European Broadcast Union (EBU) for free. The BBC says it has so far also given the broadcasting rights to the public broadcasters in the 54 Commonwealth countries - of which South Africa is a member - also for free, where broadcasters requested the live feed.
The BBC has the biggest production team of any broadcaster working on the Royal Wedding with 550 staff members and will be the only broadcaster allowed cameras inside Westminster Abbey - with the feed from those 30 cameras beamed live across the world. In addition the BBC has another 70 cameras alongside the ceremonial route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and at various other place throughout Britain.
