Saturday, February 8, 2014

BREAKING. SABC signs broadcasting rights agreement to show some of the 2014 Sochi Olympics and 2016 Olympic Games in South Africa.


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There's been no announcement or statement yet so far from the SABC, but the South African public broadcaster signed a broadcasting rights deal to show some of the 2014 winter Sochi Olympic Games on public television in South Africa just hours before the Sochi opening ceremony began on Friday evening.

The SABC also signed a broadcasting agreement for the 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

While SuperSport has the pay-TV rights for SuperSport channels on MultiChoice's DStv, the SABC will broadcast parts of the 2014 Sochi Olympics on free-to-air television and radio in South Africa.

The SABC also gets non-exclusive internet and mobile broadcast rights for South Africa of the 2014 Sochi Games.

The same rights were also signed for the 2016 Olympic Games.

It's not clear how much the SABC paid for the rights for the 2014 Olympic Games and the 2016 summer Olympic Games.

UPDATE 14:00 - The SABC confirms to me that the public broadcaster has indeed acquired 2014 Sochi Olympic Games rights and will be doing a daily highlights package on South African public television.

It wont be appearing on SABC2 schedules since the deal was clinched last minute, but SABC2 will be used for Sochi Games coverage.

"SABC Sport has secured the rights to broadcast a daily highlights package of the Sochi Winter Olympics on SABC2," says the SABC.