Trying to lower Gayton McKenzie threats on sports rights, MultiChoice's SuperSport sublicense under a quarter of PSL matches to SABC.

by Thinus Ferreira

Trying to lower pressure from South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie who wants more South African viewers to have access to national sports, MultiChoice and SuperSport have grudgingly sublicensed a quarter of the current season's Premier Soccer League football matches to South Africa's public broadcaster.

MultiChoice will allow the SABC to broadcast 51 out of over 300 PSL matches which include 23 Betway Premiership matches, 12 Nedbank Cup matches, 10 Carling Black Label Cup matches and 6 National First Division games.

League matches will be broadcast on SABC1 on Saturdays. SuperSport will broadcast all 240 Betway Premiership games live on DStv and MultiChoice's streamer Showmax.

In a joint statement MultiChoice and the SABC say SuperSport and the SABC "have reached an agreement on the sub-licensing of Premier Soccer League (PSL) broadcast rights for the new Betway Premiership season".

MultiChoice and the SABC note that the sub-licensing deal "comes on the back of strong relations developing between the two broadcasters".

Besides being able to lower the pressure South Africa's new sports minister has put on the pay-TV operator and the South African public broadcaster, their strengthened relationship also serves both in an ongoing case against eMedia's e.tv when it comes to sports rights.

Rendani Ramovha, SuperSport CEO, says "The latest sub-licence agreement with the SABC is another step towards a strong relationship with the public broadcaster, for the benefit of football lovers across the country and the African continent".

"The PSL has proven itself time and again to be the most coveted football product among South Africans and we look forward to delivering another outstanding season of football action on SuperSport."

Nomsa Chabeli, SABC CEO, says "We are pleased with this acquisition, which is another demonstration of our commitment to delivering exceptional support content to our diverse audiences."

MultiChoice's SuperSport and the South African public broadcaster reach an undisclosed 5-year deal for matches of the Premier Soccer League's Absa Premiership to be broadcast on the SABC.

After the South African government and its sports minister Nathi Mthethwa forced a deal between the two, a vague and non-specific 5-year agreement between MultiChoice's SuperSport and the struggling South African public broadcaster was announced on Friday for the SABC to sub-license free-to air TV and radio broadcasting rights for some matches from the Premier Soccer League's (PSL) Absa Premiership.

It temporarily ended a growing crisis, although the overall issue remains, of the embattled and out-of-cash South African public broadcaster being unable and unwilling to pay the multi-million rand rights fees for content from the PSL's Absa Premiership on the public airwaves.

Not Nathi Mthehtwa who held a shockingly bad press conference on Friday afternoon devoid of information or answers, nor MultiChoice, SuperSport, the PSL or the SABC gave any financial details of the new 5-year deal - despite being asked - and despite providing prior financial details that led to a possible deal collapse and that were shared earlier by several of the parties.

The SABC demanded a 96% discount in the licensing rights price from SuperSport for Absa Premiership matches from which the SABC sub-license the broadcasting rights.

The SABC said that it can't afford the licensing rights sticker price and SABC top brass went as far as ordering presenters at the public broadcaster to withhold information from South African citizens and to not even mention Absa Premiership match scores on air or to discuss or do any commentary about the PSL.

The SABC claimed that a broadcasting licensing deal with SuperSport was not financially viable for the broadcaster and something it couldn't afford and that the SABC would make revenue of just R47 million a year if they accepted the deal and lose money.

The SABC in a statement on 3 August 2019 said that it "was expected to pay SuperSport R280 million for 144 matches per year for a period of five years, and during that period, the SABC would have made revenue of only R9.8 million per year."

After breaking his promise of announcing a a deal and the specifics of it on Thursday, Nathi Mthethwa on Friday in a statement (after Thursday night saying that the various stakeholders are "still findign each other in the impasse") announced that a 5-year deal was reached.


The South African government through its sports minister said:
"I would like to thank all the participants, MultiChoice, the PSL and the SABC for their positive approach which ensures that ordinary South Africans are able to access football in our country," said Nathi Mthethwa.

"We recognise the importance of sport and in this instance football in promoting national cohesion and commend all stakeholders involved."


The Premier Soccer League said:
The PSL in a statement attributed to Dr Irvin Khoza, PSL chairperson, on Friday said "We welcome the sports minister's intervention and his willingness to facilitate a commercial agreement with the SABC".

"We are committed to bringing as much access to South African football as is possible to the football-loving public, in a manner that ensures the sustainability of the PSL as one of the top 10 football leagues in the world".


MultiChoice said:
MultiChoice in a statement attributed to Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO, said "We remain committed to long-term investment in sports in South Africa and the rest of Africa. In the previous financial year, the MultiChoice Group invested over R2.3 billion in sports on the continent".

"An important element of the investment is in sports broadcasting and sponsorship rights, which provide critical revenue streams for sports bodies that filter down to every tier and has an undeniable impact on the development of the sport."

SuperSport had no individual statement.


The SABC said:
The SABC in a statement attributed to Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, said that "In line with our public mandate we are pleased to have reached an agreement, in the interest of the South African public".

"Most importantly, this commercially viable deal is aligned to the goal of having a financially sustainable public broadcaster."

"The SABC will continue to discharge its public mandate in a manner which is not only sustainable for the organisation but ensures that the South African public have access to sports of national interest such as the PSL."

On Friday afternoon SABC1 issued a programming notification and scheduling update saying that the schedule for Saturday, 24 August, is changing.

SABC1 said that the ABsa Premiership match of Black Leopards vs Highlands Park will now be shown with the build-up programming starting at 14:30 until 15:00,followed at 15:00 to 17:00 by the Black Leopards vs Highlands Park match broadcast live.


The South African parliament's portfolio committee on sports said:
On Friday the portfolio committee on sports, arts and culture in South Africa's parliament in a statement said it "welcomes the agreement regarding the broadcast of Provincial Soccer League (PSL) games on the SABC television and radio".

The committee didn't know that it's called the Premier Soccer League.

Beauty Dlulane, committee chairperson, said that "All sides need to honour their contractual agreement, as agreed to with the minister, so that the poorest of the poor people of South Africa are able to view future matches without being plunged into darkness, as happened in the past two weeks".

Nathi Mthethwa's useless press conference
On Friday following his press statement, Nathi Mthethwa held a terrible and extremely amateur-looking press conference where he refused to give specific and detail information in answers when specifically asked about the nature of the deal between MultiChoice and the SABC over PSL broadcasting rights.

Nathi Mthethwa appeared either completely clueless or unwilling during his press conference carried live on SABC News (DStv 404) to talk on an informed basis about the MultiChoice-SABC deal for PSL rights.

Nathi Mthethwa was asked for basics of the deal, how many matches the deal will include, whether the SABC came up from its previously announced price it was willing to pay, or whether MultiChoice and SuperSport came down from the previously announced price.

Nathi Mthethwa said "I'm not going to get into the details of it, but I can tell you that R72 million has been offered by the SABC and everything is being worked according to that".

"We agreed as all the parties that the people should not suffer. Those who cannot afford pay TV should not suffer, that’s the principle we agreed on."

Nathi Mthethwa said "There are relationship matters which still need to be engaged on even though some of them I may not be at liberty to divulge before we sit down on that. I can confirm that money played a very key part of it."


What are the financial terms?
While the SABC at the beginning of August specifically said what it was willing to pay and set out the financial terms of what would and wouldn't work, it is unwilling as the South African public broadcaster to now say what financial arrangement it entered into.

TVwithThinus asked the SABC on Friday what is the amount of money that the SABC is paying for this agreement, since the SABC previously said that the amount required was too much and can't afford it.

Vuyo Mthembu, SABC spokesperson said "the SABC would like to reiterate that it has reached a commercially viable deal that is in best interest of the organization’s financial health as well as the interest of the public. We are however not at liberty to publicly discuss the details of the agreement."

MultiChoice was also asked what the financials of the agreement is. MultiChoice's PR company Aprio which issued the MultiChoice statement, said it has sent the media enquiry to the relevant people.

By late Friday night neither Aprio nor MultiChoice have responded with any answers to the media enquiry.


The SABC's PSL scheduling on TV and radio
The SABC was asked for its initial PSL broadcast schedule. The SABC responded and said:

The SABC will begin broadcasting PSL matches with the Black Leopards vs Highlands Park match live on SABC1 at 15:00 on Saturday, 24 August 2019.

SABC radio stations Thobela FM, Phalaphala FM, Umhlobo Wenene FM, Lesedi FM and Radio 2000, will also broadcast the Leopards vs Highlands Park match, with trufm broadcasting the Golden Arrows vs Chippa United match on Saturday.

 In addition 10 radio stations Phalaphala FM, MLFM, Motsweding FM,  Ligwalagwala FM, Ikwekwezi FM, Ukhozi FM  Lesedi FM, Radio 2000, X-K FM and trufm will broadcast the Kaizer Chiefs vs SuperSport match on Saturday, 24 August 2019.

Sunday 25 August Thobela FM, ,MLFM, Motsweding FM, Ligwalagwala FM, Ikwekwezi FM, Umhlobo Wenene FM, Lesedi FM, Radio 2000 and Phalaphala FM will be covering  the Baroka vs Bloemfontein Celtic clash.

Sports minister Nathi Mthethwa, MultiChoice, SuperSport, the SABC and the PSL on Thursday still 'finding each other in the impasse' over Absa Premiership public broadcasting rights crisis as promised Thursday announcement is pushed to Friday.

South Africa's sports minister Nathi Mthethwa failed to properly manage his self-announced, self-set and self-created public expectations and together with pay-TV operator MultiChoice, SuperSport, the SABC and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) failed to announce on Thursday a breakthrough in a sub-licensing rights Absa Premiership deal for the public broadcaster.

Late Thursday night sports minister Nathi Mthethwa who appears incompetent, released a vague statement making a new promise after just having broken one, saying that a "full statement" would be released before the end of the day on Friday 23 August.

Earlier this week Nathi Mthethwa - who belatedly started to intervene in the ongoing crisis at the SABC not showking any of the new Absa Premiership season's soccer matches on the broke South African public broadcaster after its failure and refusal to sign any sub-licensing rights broadcast agreement - announced that an announcement about a breakthrough would be made on Thursday.

Thursday however came and went without anything from South Africa's minister of sports who oversold a possible agreement between MultiChoice, SuperSport, the SABC and the PSL that by Thursday night didn't exist.

The SABC demanded a 96% discount in the licensing rights price from SuperSport for Absa Premiership matches from which the SABC sub-license the broadcasting rights.

The SABC said that it can't afford the licensing rights sticker price and SABC top brass went as far as ordering presenters at the public broadcaster to withhold information from South African citizens and to not even mention Absa Premiership match scores on air or to discuss or do any commentary about the PSL.

The SABC claimed that a broadcasting licensing deal with SuperSport was not financially viable for the broadcaster and something it couldn't afford and that the SABC would make revenue of just R47 million a year if they accepted the deal and lose money.

The South African government responded reactively and belatedly as in previous cases said it would do meetings with the SABC, the PSL and MultiChoice.

The ongoing, massive problem with sports rights remains unsolved by the South African government and the departments of sports and communications, who constantly - after a blackout crisis at the SABC - respond with a meeting, followed by some short-term plaster TV package on the gaping wound, and then nothing to solve the long-term systemic problems and bleeding.

After a first meeting with the SABC and the PSL, Nathi Mthethwa on Wednesday in a statement said that he met on Tuesday with Dr Irvin Koza, PSL chairperson; as well as Imtiaz Patel, the MultiChoice Group's chairperson, and Calvo Mawela on Tuesday.

In a statement late on Thursday night, Nathi Mthethwa said that on Thursday evening he and Stella Ndabeni Abrahams, South Africa's communications minister, had met with Dr Irvin Khoza; Bongumusa Makhathini, SABC board chairperson; Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO; Craig van Rooyen, SABC COO who is on his way out; as well as MultiChoice's Imtiaz Patel and Calvo Mawela "to further push for a solution".

Nathi Mthethwa said on Thursday night that " all parties are finding each other in the impasse which resulted in the non-broadcast of PSL matches on the SABC" and that there's been "a breakthrough" without wanting to say what it was.

He said that "a full statement which will entail details of the agreement" will be "communicated before close of business on Friday".

Why Nathi Mthethwa publicly promised an announcement on Thursday and then didn't deliver isn't clear.

South Africa's sports minister says MultiChoice and the Premier Soccer League will on Thursday announce some solution to have Absa Premiership matches broadcast on the embattled SABC that can't pay for it.

South Africa's minister of sports, Nathi Mthethwa announced that his department, the pay-TV operator MultiChoice and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) will announce on Thursday, 22 August 2019, a solution to have Absa Premiership matches broadcast on the embattled South African public broadcaster that can't pay for it.

The PSL slammed the SABC for its failure to pick up and pay for certain free-to-air rights to some matches of the new Absa Premiership season that kicked off at the beginning of this month, with the SABC that demanded a 96% discount in the licensing rights price from SuperSport from which the SABC sub-license the broadcasting rights.

The SABC said that it can't afford the licensing rights sticker price and SABC top brass went as far as ordering presenters at the public broadcaster to withhold information from South African citizens and to not even mention Absa Premiership match scores on air or to discuss or do any commentary about the PSL.

The SABC claimed that a broadcasting licensing deal with SuperSport was not financially viable for the broadcaster and something it couldn't afford and that the SABC would make revenue of just R47 million a year if they accepted the deal and lose money.

The South African government responded reactively and belatedly as in previous cases said it would do meetings with the SABC, the PSL and MultiChoice.

The ongoing, massive problem with sports rights remains unsolved by the South African government and the departments of sports and communications, who constantly - after a blackout crisis at the SABC - respond with a meeting, followed by some short-term plaster TV package on the gaping wound, and then nothing to solve the long-term systemic problems and bleeding.

After a first meeting with the SABC and the PSL, Nathi Mthethwa on Wednesday in a statement said that he met on Tuesday with Dr Irvin Koza, PSL chairperson; as well as Imtiaz Patel, the MultiChoice Group's chairperson, and Calvo Mawela on Tuesday.

"After this interaction, we are confident that a resolution to this impasse is imminent as of Thursday," Nathi Mthethwa announced.

"Both the PSL the PSL and MultiChoice honoured the appointment and that is an indication of their appreciating the gravity of this matter. I am happy that both parties understand that despite the contrasting interests they represent, which are valid on individual accounts, what can no longer be treated lightly is the heavy toll this impasse has taken on South Africans."

"That both Dr Irvin Khoza, as well as Imtiaz Patel and Calvo Mawela met with me is testament that they understand that a solution must be found."

After yet another SABC soccer blackout making the PSL's Absa Premiership matches unavailable, the South African government yet again responds by saying it will plan a meeting with the SABC, SuperSport and the PSL.

After yet another SABC soccer blackout making the Premier Soccer League' Absa Premiership matches unavailable on the South African public broadcaster and preventing millions of viewers unable to watch local football in their own country, the South African government responded as usual saying that it now plans to meet with the SABC, SuperSport the PSL.

Once again stunned into inaction, neither Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa's minister of sports, arts and culture, nor Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, the minister of communications, had anything to say on Saturday when the PSL revealed that the latest Absa Premiership season won't be broadcast on the SABC.

The beleaguered SABC demanded a 96% discount on the price to acquire sub-licensing rights from MultiChoice and SuperSport that is showing PSL matches on the DStv satellite pay-TV service.

The ongoing, massive problem with sports rights remains unsolved by the South African government and the departments of sports and communications, who constantly - after a blackout crisis at the SABC - respond with a meeting, followed by some short-term plaster TV package on the gaping wound, and then nothing to solve the long-term systemic problems and bleeding.

On Sunday, Nathi Mthethwa -  a day after the SABC revealed an hour before kick-off that it won't show any matches of the PSL's Absa premiership season - said (like clockwork) that the department of sports it will be having an urgent meeting with the department of communications, SuperSport, and the PSL.

As in the past, the result will very likely be that somehow some PSL Absa Premiership matches of the new season would be made available on the SABC in some patched-programme fashion.

Longterm however, the South African government and ministers of sport and communications will likely simply kick the can down the road as keeps happening, with sports rights and soccer matches an ongoing contentious issue and with the government that remains unable and unwilling to put in place real-world solutions to prevent blackout recurrences.

"The minister will be convening a meeting soon‚ commencing first with consulting individuals and then meeting with everybody concerned at a later stage‚ said Mickey Modisane, from South Africa's department of sports.

"The minister is indeed disappointed that millions of South Africans who don't have access to pay-TV were not able to watch the opening round of PSL matches. It has been brought to the minister's attention and he has made an undertaking that he will be consulting with all relevant stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to this current situation."

"Once all parties have met with the minister‚ it is only then that we will be able to make an informed determination on whether this situation could have been avoided."

"The minister hopes that all parties will make themselves available for this matter that is of high priority and needs urgent attention. The minister will be meeting all relevant parties upon their availability to engage them‚ finding a solution on Tuesday might be impossible‚" Mickey Modisane said.

On Tuesday Bidvest Wits plays against Baroka FC in Johannesburg in the Absa Premiership, and Highlands Park will play against Maritzburg United in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.

Earlier in 2019 the SABC failed to show the Banyana Banyana soccer matches at this year's Women's Soccer World Cup and the SABC also failed to broadcast the 2019 Two Oceans Marathon.

The SABC failed to broadcast Bafana Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers‚ and there is no deal in place between SABC and the South African Football Association (Safa) before Bafana Bafana embarks on qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2022 Qatar World Cup in the coming months.

Premier Soccer League slams SABC over deliberate soccer 'blackout'; reveals millions of viewers won't see any Absa Premiership matches on the public broadcaster that wanted a 96% discount from SuperSport for rights.

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Saturday afternoon slammed the beleaguered South African public broadcaster which it blamed for a deliberate broadcast "blackout" of matches that it said the SABC planned, when the PSL revealed that the broadcaster won't be showing any Absa Premiership PSL soccer matches on the public broadcaster.

The SABC has remained silent this past week when asked multiple times whether and what Absa Premiership matches it would broadcast, with millions of South African viewers left without broadcast access.

In a statement on Saturday afternoon on its website the PSL revealed that it discovered that the SABC won't be showing any of the opening round matches of the Absa Premiership this weekend starting on Saturday.

The PSL season starts on Saturday afternoon with Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United playing a match in the Tshwane Derby at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville at 15:00. On Tuesday Bidvest Wits plays against Baroka FC in Johannesburg, and Highlands Park will play against Maritzburg United in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.

The PSL says it only discovered the broadcast "blackout" when it was brought to its attention on Friday by SuperSport as the broadcast rights holder.

"South African followers will not find the PSL football matches on the free-to-air television and radio channels of the SABC," the PSL revealed in its statement.

"This was brought to the PSL's attention yesterday, 2 August 2019 by SuperSport, the broadcast rights holder. Up until the beginning of this week we were made to believe the final bits were being ironed out towards yet another exciting season that the majority consume on free-to-air television provided by the SABC."

"In hindsight, we should have made more of the question by a SABC journalist after the board of governors meeting 2 days ago, on Thursday 1 August 2019, when he revealed that there was no scheduling of weekend matches to be broadcast by the SABC."

"Knowing what we know now, it is evident that the SABC had already prepared for a 'blackout'. According to SuperSport, the SABC proposal is tantamount to discounting the PSL rights by 96%. This would be unacceptable," the PSL said.

"Upon receiving a letter from SuperSport about the situation, Dr Irvin Khoza, PSL chairperson, immediately wrote an urgent letter to the minister of communication and minister of sports, arts and culture. In the letters he stated to the ministers that the challenges being faced have legal, public and political implications."

"In addressing this matter, it is maybe time that the nation accept that the SABC is incapable of meeting its requirements since a 'blackout' to the majority of people who consume their football through free-to-air television and radio is unacceptable going forward," the PSL says in its statement.

Earlier in 2019 the SABC failed to show the Banyana Banyana soccer matches at this year's Women's Soccer World Cup and the SABC also failed to broadcast the 2019 Two Oceans Marathon.

The SABC failed to broadcast Bafana Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers‚ and there is no deal in place between SABC and the South African Football Association (Safa) before Bafana Bafana embarks on qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2022 Qatar World Cup in the coming months.

In a terse statement from the SABC issued on Saturday afternoon at 14:10 by SABC spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu after the PSL's shocking revelation, the SABC admitted that "no agreement was reached between the SABC and SuperSport on the broadcast of PSL matches". 

"The SABC regrets to announce that no sublicense agreement was reached with SuperSport in respect to the broadcast of matches of the new PSL season. The SABC was expected to pay SuperSport R280 million for 144 matches per year for a period of five years, and during that period, the SABC would have made revenue of only R9.8 million per year."

"This would not have been a commercially viable agreement for the SABC. Over the last five years the public broadcaster has incurred a loss of R1.3 billion in relation to the broadcast of PSL matches and a decision has been taken that any agreement entered into, should be financially sound and sustainable for the business, ensuring that there is return on investment for the organisation," the SABC said.

In the statement, Dr Craig van Rooyen, the SABC’s acting chief operations officer (COO) said that "the SABC would like to apologise to all South Africans. However, for the financial sustainability of the SABC, we will not continue with deals that are not commercially viable".

The SABC continues to be blamed for constantly trying to negotiate and secure sports contracts last-minute instead of further in advance.

When the broadcaster secures sports rights at short notice although tournaments and sports events are planned far in advance, the SABC doesn't have time to market and publicise it, doesn't have time to place and show it on TV schedules, and the SABC's airtime and ad sales division is unable to sell commercials and sponsorships which leads to the SABC not being able to monetise sports content.

The Premier Soccer League and MultiChoice expand the format of their MultiChoice Diski Challenge by doubling up its reserve league soccer programme.

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) and MultiChoice is changing the format of its MultiChoice Diski Challenge that it started in August 2014, doubling the number of matches per season and turning it into a full league programme from 9 August that will run until June every year.

In the new format starting with the 6th season of 2019/2020 and broadcast on SuperSport on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, the MultiChoice Diski Challenge is changed into a Top 8 knockout competition, with the number of matches played that will double from 120 to 240, bumping up the festival weekends from 12 to 18.

The 16 teams competing in the Reserve League will now get to play each other twice in a season and the teams finishing in the top 8 positions moving on to compete for the Diski Shield cup competition at the start of every new season.

MultiChoice Diski Challenge soccer matches that will be broadcast live on SuperSport will almost double from 40 to 70, with the feed that will continue to be shared with several community TV stations across South Africa that are carried on DStv, and who get to simulcast the live broadcasts.

It will also mean more opportunities for upskilling and to get experience for people included in the broadcast internship programme that forms part of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge.

Matches to be broadcast live go up from 40 to over 70, intensifying the broadcast internship programme as more matches played widens the scope of the programme and will also help build content capacity for the community TV’s with whom the live feed is shared with.

"Nothing beats a competitive environment and development requires visibility," says Dr Irvin Khoza, PSL chairperson who spoke at a PSL press conference that was held on Thursday morning at the PSL head office in Parktown, Johannesburg, announcing the MultiChoice Diski Challenge format changes and expansion.

"The MultiChoice Diski Challenge has that visibility. It makes it attractive to the youth who are almost lost to football. We believe if you want to remain relevant, you must always bring fresh faces. MultiChoice has brought light to our football."

"The new format of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge will create a legacy that will benefit this country for many years to come not only the PSL clubs but also the junior national teams. This platform increases competitiveness and keeps our players active and sharp throughout the season."

Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO says "When we launched the Diski partnership with the PSL 5 years ago, we could never have foreseen the incredible contribution it would make to local football".

"The MultiChoice Diski Challenge has become the cornerstone of South African football development and has seen over 150 players make the leap to professional football locally with others moving to European leagues."

"There are about 30 players called up for the 2019 Cosafa Cup, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and the Under 20 World Cup currently taking place in Poland. It's these incredible milestones achieved in a relatively short period that have resulted in implementing an expansion to the tournament."

When we launched the Diski partnership with the PSL five years ago, we would never have foreseen the incredible contribution it would make to local football,” enthused Calvo Mawelo, CEO for MultiChoice Group.

The Diski Champions Tour, the Reserve League winner's prize, will now move from March to between late-April and early-May.

Premier Soccer League blocks the SABC from airing any further PSL matches on SABC radio, citing the broadcaster's failure to adhere to the production and airing agreements of the contract.

South Africa's Premier Soccer League (PSL) has blocked the South African public broadcaster from broadcasting any further PSL matches on any of the SABC's radio stations, citing the broadcaster's failure the past few years to adhere to the production and airing of PSL promos to promote PSL content.

The SABC will continue to broadcast PSL matches on SABC television, with the new PSL season that kicked off on 4 August, and is also being televised by SuperSport on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

The PSL decision comes after the SABC approached the PSL as late as Thursday the past week with a contract for coverage and licensing rights of the new PSL season. The PSL turned it down.

That led the SABC to issue a statement late on Friday, abruptly informing the South African public that PSL matches on SABC radio is a thing of the past. The minister of sport, Tokozile Xasa, will now intervene as radio listeners making use of the SABC's radio services are shocked and angry about the SABC's inability to provide coverage.

The SABC in a statement on Friday late afternoon said "the SABC would like to advise the South African public that it will not broadcast the PSL matches on radio".

"This decision follows careful consideration to the SABC's business operations and the unsuccessful negotiations with the PSL to secure the broadcast rights for soccer matches on radio. The SABC and PSL could not reach a consensus with regards to the terms of the contract and this has unfortunately led to the SABC not being able to close the deal with the PSL."

"At this stage the SABC will only broadcast the PSL soccer matches on its television platform."

The SABC said it "will not be coerced to conclude business deals which may compromise its business operations. The SABC was only informed this afternoon that it is prohibited to broadcast the PSL matches on radio and greatly regrets this outcome."

What the SABC failed to mention, was why the PSL didn't sign a new contract with the public broadcaster, which is the SABC's failure for the past number of years to keep to the agreed upon stipulations of the contract to produce at the SABC's cost, and air, promos about the PSL that the SABC should broadcast on SABC radio to promote PSL soccer.

The SABC wants to shift the responsibility of the production costs - believed to be around R40 million - to the PSL, after it also failed to produce the agreed-upon promos for SABC radio the last few years for PSL coverage.

The SABC further owes Michael Owen Productions R15 million - a case that is currently embroiled in a legal dispute - after the service provider helped the SABC for 3 years to produce this content so that the public broadcaster can keep to its end of its PSL contract.

SABC Sport abruptly took it over only to then fail and not produce a single radio promo for the PSL.

Mato Madlala, acting PSL CEO, on Friday 3 August, sent a letter to all PSL clubs, instructing them to bar all SABC radio personnel.

"The league has today received a letter from the SABC repudiating its obligations under the radio broadcast and promotion agreement."

"Until such time as we receive confirmation from the SABC that they will meet their obligations, the SABC radio cannot be permitted to cover Absa Premiership matches."

"Please ensure that no SABC radio personnel are permitted access to any matches and/or allow any are allowed to cover any matches until such time as the league receives confirmation from the SABC that they will meet their obligations under the agreement".

Irvin Khoza, PSL chairperson, is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to explain how the SABC failed to keep to its end of the bargain regarding SABC radio broadcasts of PSL promos.

The minister of sport, Thokozile Xasa, in a statement on Saturday said "Soccer is the sport mostly followed by the poor and the working class in our country, the rural mass, taxi operators and truck drivers who solely depend on radio to follow this beautiful game."

"I will be meeting with all relevant parties this coming week as this decision threatens social cohesion in our country and threatens jobs of many broadcasting sports journalists. The decisions they make in boardrooms must never affect the majority of our people negatively. I have full confidence that we will reach a decision that will satisfy the majority of soccer-loving people."

BREAKING. SuperSport again awarded the pay-TV broadcasting rights to SA's Premier Soccer League (PSL) in new 5-year deal.

The pay-sportscaster SuperSport has again been awarded the pay-TV broadcasting rights for South Africa's Premier Soccer League (PSL) for 5-years in a new long-term deal following a public tender process.

SuperSport didn't reveal the sticker price of the broadcast rights acquisition but calls access to the PSL "a cornerstone of the SuperSport broadcast business".

The new half-decade deal means that PSL games will continue to be shown on MultiChoice's DStv until at least 2024.

The cash-strapped South African public broadcaster was unsuccessful in securing any rights, as were the telecoms operator Vodacom.

The SABC sub-licensed on a part-time broadcast basis the rights from SuperSport to show some of the games.

The SABC indicated last month that it would put in a bid and asked the PSL for an extension of the deadline date to put a bid together; a request that was granted.

SuperSport clinched the pay-TV broadcasting rights for the Premier Soccer League in Sub-Saharan Africa for the 2019 to 2024 season.

MultiChoice's SuperSport held the rights for the past decade after the SABC failed to put in a bid 10 years ago when its existing deal expired and the public broadcaster lost the rights.

"We are delighted to have been successful with our bid," says Gideon Khobane, SuperSport CEO.

"This decision allows us to further entrench an outstanding soccer product in the hearts and minds of supporters across the continent.

"Having recently celebrated our 10-year partnership with the PSL, this is a tremendous opportunity to further help grow and nourish the sport.This agreement will do much for South African football, for footballers and indeed their families," says Gideon Khobane.

SuperSport says PSL matches are "a cornerstone of the SuperSport broadcast business" chiefly because "the league is vibrant, competitive and hugely popular. Capturing its essence week in and week out has been a challenge SuperSport has faithfully grasped".

"We will continue to walk this amazing path with the PSL. SuperSport looks forward to an enduring partnership with the PSL," says Gideon Khobane.

PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza says it is "delighted to continue its special relationship which has existed over a 10-year period and has seen the Absa Premiership grow into a world class product".

"Under the terms of the arrangement Absa Premiership matches will continue to be covered on a free-to-air basis, acknowledging the requirements of its fans throughout South Africa".

Premier Soccer League (PSL) agrees to extend the deadline for bids for broadcasting rights after the SABC asks for an extension.

The SABC has asked the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to extend the bid deadline for broadcasting rights so the public broadcaster can put together a possible tender offer and the PSL has agreed to extend the deadline.

The broadcasting rights are up for the Premier Soccer League in Sub-Saharan Africa for the 2019 to 2024 season.

So far it's been held by MultiChoice's SuperSport for the past decade after the SABC failed to put in a bid 10 years ago when its existing deal expired and the public broadcaster lost the rights.

Currently the SABC sub-licensed broadcasting rights so that public access broadcasting viewers can see some of the matches.

PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza on Wednesday after the league's annual general meeting in Sandton revealed that the PSL decided to extend the deadline for bids after the SABC requested more time.

Last week the SABC in parliament was asked whether it would be putting in a bid for the PSL broadcasting rights and told parliament's portfolio committee on communications that it would put together and submit a tender.

The PSL put out the broadcasting rights tender at the beginning of this month with an original deadline of 10 November.

"We briefed the members of PSL about the broadcasting rights which were supposed to be finalized on Wednesday but we've had to extend the deadline until Friday."

"This was prompted by SABC asking for an extra week because of the appointment of its new board. We gave them that extension to make sure that they get the equal chance."

"But what was also unique was that this time around we got applications from Vodacom‚ Telkom and Kwesé Sports. So it will be quite interesting to see what will be the outcome of these bids."

The PSL broadcasting rights include linear television - both pay-TV and public broadcasting, IPTV, internet streaming and mobile broadcasting of league matches.

SuperSport and PSL celebrate the 10 year anniversary of its PSL TV rights partnership; 'scores of DStv dishes on township roofs illustrates how much local soccer resonates'.

"There are scores of DStv dishes on township roofs, which illustrates how much local soccer resonates with local fans," Imtiaz Patel, CEO of Video Entertainment at Naspers and former SuperSport CEO, said on Saturday night at the SuperSport PSL 10 Year Gala celebration of its PSL TV rights partnership.

"We have made every effort to produce affordable viewing packages, and the response has been humbling. The strength of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) is its vibrancy and energy. We hope to continue to play our part in what has become a case study in sport partnership," said Imtiaz Patel.

SuperSport and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) celebrated their 10th anniversary since the landmark pay-TV deal between the subscription sports broadcaster and the South African soccer league was signed amidst great controversy a decade ago on 13 June 2007.

A decade ago SuperSport took over the PSL live TV rights from the SABC after it clinched a new rights deal after the SABC completely failed to respond at all during the window period to renegotiate rights. Since then the public broadcaster gets to show some games but with restrictions. 

Since then the SuperSport TV rights deal completely revolutionised not just PSL broadcasting in the country upping production values and increasing the volume of content and ancillary magazine shows, but professionalism within the PSL and matches itself, propelling it to one of the top 10 soccer leagues in the world in terms of revenue.

The SuperSport PSL 10 Year Celebration bash held at the Sandton Convention Centre attracted a large group of the top soccer bosses and pay-TV executives in South Africa, as well as celebrities and politicians including the ministers of sport and communications.

In an on-air TV talent announcement, Minnie Dlamini was officially welcomed as the latest new SuperSport presenter who will do duty across several SuperSport shows, as well as a new lifestyle and entertainment TV show, as yet unnamed, on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and co-produced by SuperSport.

"I can't help but be both humbled and excited by what the past 10 years have delivered, not least in the part we played in giving South African soccer the respect and prominence it deserves. It truly now has a place in the sun," said Imtiaz Patel. 

"The relationship was a defining moment for the industry in this country," said dr Irvin Khoza, PSL chairman. "It's been far more than a mere investment in the PSL. Development has benefited, too, with club academics producing top players". 

Where there used to be 75 PSL matches broadcast per year, 250 are not broadcast live and there's the decidicated SuperSport PSL channel in high definition (HD) on DStv that shows 180 matches live.

Other interesting broadcasting facts from the SuperSport and PSL partnership:

• Up to 30 cameras are used per production, up from 10 a decade ago.
• There are multiple commentary options with state-of-the-art graphics.
• Apart from the use of pundits, commentators and analysts, the partnership also spurred job creation in both television and soccer.
•  Global interest in the PSL is constant with requests from African countries, UAE, Scandinavia and even the US for broadcast of PSL matches.
• The partnership also gave rise to the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, a feeder competition to the PSL, which has proven a staggering success.
• A higher percentage of clubs have sponsors than ever before; they can now get a better return on investment through additional broadcast exposure.