Bad news for Springbok matches on SABC

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will no longer broadcast the Springboks’ matches against Ireland in South Africa on 6 July and 12 July 2024.

The broadcaster said the decision followed the recent urgent litigation at the Competition Appeal Court over the broadcast rights to test matches.

That led the SABC to review continuing with the sub-licencing agreement concluded with MultiChoice’s SuperSport, which it first announced a week ago.

“The SABC will always strive to achieve its sports broadcast mandate without compromising its commercial objectives,” the broadcaster said.

While it did not specifically name the legal matter in question, the SABC was likely referring to eMedia and MultiChoice’s battle over the sub-licensing of free-to-air sports broadcasting rights.

Former SABC board member Michael Markovitz recently pointed out that the SABC’s sub-licensing agreement could be in violation of the Competition Tribunal’s previous ruling regarding sub-licencing in favour of eMedia.

The SABC had again agreed not to broadcast the two matches and the T20 Cricket World Cup final on its free-to-air channels on eMedia’s Openview satellite service.

MultiChoice previously demanded the same condition for key matches from the Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cup that the SABC had sub-licensed at the last minute.

eMedia slammed the condition and took MultiChoice to the Competition Tribunal.

The Tribunal granted eMedia an interdict that forced MultiChoice to allow the SABC to broadcast live sports sub-licensed from SuperSport on Openview.

MultiChoice has appealed the ruling, and the Competition Appeal Court is set to hear arguments in the matter in August 2024.

eMedia has also challenged MultiChoice’s short sub-licensing bidding periods for important sports events, after it only opened a tender for free-to-air broadcasters to bid for the T20 Cricket World Cup matches five weeks before the tournament started.

The SABC is likely concerned that not broadcasting the matches on its Openview channels would violate the interdict.

Shortly after the SABC’s announcement, MultiChoice released a short statement describing the termination of the sub-licensing agreement as “regrettable”, although it fully “respects and accepts” the decision.

“MultiChoice will continue engaging with the SABC in seeking a working relationship that would benefit both viewers and sports bodies,” the broadcaster said.

Alternative options on radio and streaming

The SABC will still offer radio broadcasting and commentary of all six Inbound Tour Springboks matches on the following stations:

• Motsweding FM
• Lesedi FM
• Thobela FM
• Ukhozi FM
• Umhlobo Wenene FM
• Ligwalagwala FM
• Ikwekwezi FM
• Munghana Lonene FM
• Phalaphala FM
• RSG
• Radio 2000

The SABC’s latest agreement with MultiChoice also excluded the rights to stream the matches on its SABC+ service.

The only official way to stream the matches in South Africa will be via DStv Stream.

However, South Africans with a virtual private network (VPN) service can watch the matches live for free on the NZR+ streaming service.

The matches will also be available without a VPN in 42 countries that traditionally have very few broadcasted rugby matches, including Belgium, China, India, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia and Sweden.

A VPN with a server in New Zealand or any of the 42 countries will likely enable those in South Africa to livestream the matches without a DStv subscription.