PSL in stopgap deal with SABC
PSL chairman Irvin Khoza said yesterday that although the PSL had been “bombarded” by numerous commercial and community radio stations desperate to secure the radio rights, it was still working with the SABC in a bid to finalise the deal before the deadline.
“We are mindful of the disadvantage this (the 10-day radio blackout) is causing,” Khoza said.
“That is why we have again afforded the SABC the right to exploit our radio rights until September 17.”
The arrangement means that millions of soccer lovers who rely solely on radio for coverage of the domestic premiership will once again be able to tune in after the PSL pulled the plug last month. They will be able to listen to the SAA Supa 8 final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates on September 15, and the premiership match that takes place the next day.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the SABC was happy that negotiations had been allowed to continue without affecting the public.
“We welcome the decision because people should not suffer while we are trying to finalise the deal,” he said. “From our side, we undertake that we will keep people updated on where we are as far as the negotiations are concerned.”
More than 10 commercial and several community radio stations have made enquiries about the status of the radio rights, and should the PSL and the SABC fail to reach an agreement by September 17, premiership matches could have a new radio home.
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