South African rugby unions are concerned and have become disillusioned with what they see as SuperSport's undue influence on South African rugby.
The Sunday Times newspaper on Sunday reported that some South African rugby unions "have become disillusioned with the TV channel’s role in the sport” and are voicing concern over SuperSport's influence on the sport. The issue is at the centre of SA Rugby's upcoming elections set for 6 April.
Rugby unions are angry at Supersport for what they say is undue power being wielded by SuperSport behind the scenes since it's the sole broadcast rights holder of rugby in the country with matches shown exclusively first on MultiChoice's satellite pay-TV platform, DStv.
At issue is SuperSport's minority share interest in teams like the Cheetahs and the Sharks. Unions are worried that this gives SuperSport undue influence regarding decisions affecting South African rugby.
According to some unions, SuperSport doesn't want to show for instance the the Currie Cup’s First Division.
SuperSport said that it doesn't influence decision-making in South African rugby and help unions with administration that cost money and time. "We hold only a minority shareholding in 2 of the 14 rugby unions," SuperSport told the newspaper.
According to The Sunday Times, provinces that have Super Rugby franchises will get R32 million a year while other provinces will only get R17 million.
A source told the newspaper that "I think SA Rugby has been hijacked".
In October 2017 a lot of attention was drawn to rugby rights and SuperSport's role when Cosatu slammed SuperSport for "putting profit and greed before the interests and well-being of ordinary South Africans" for the way in which South African viewers without access to MultiChoice's DStv or pay-television, are unable to see the majority of televised rugby matches.
Cosatu was and remains angry over the lack of live free-to-air rugby matches on South African television and has started a fight with South African Rugby and SuperSport that has the exclusive live broadcasting rights.
Cosatu in late 2017 threatened to publicly protest at rugby matches but called it off after an intervention that saw some rugby matches being rebroadcast on the SABC.
Cosatu said in a statement that it "will be in the forefront in taking national sport away from SuperSport".
