Update: That’s a 6! Cricket fans win as SABC gets world cup green light
An agreement has been reached between South Africa’s national broadcaster and MultiChoice.
South Africans who don’t have DStv can now watch the 2023 Cricket World Cup on SABC.
“The SABC is pleased to announce that the corporation will be broadcasting the Cricket World Cup 2023, following further negotiations with the rights holder, Multichoice (SuperSport), for the sub-licensing of the free-to-air broadcasting rights,” said the SABC’s acting group executive of corporate affairs and marketing, Mmoni Seapolelo, in a statement yesterday.
She explained that the parties reached an agreement that enables the SABC to fulfil its public service broadcasting mandate of broadcasting sports of national interest.
We welcome the commitment by SABC and Multichoice (Supersport) to sign the sub-licensing deal, which allows all South Africans to watch the Proteas Men at the 2023 Cricket World Cup.@SportArtsCultur @SABCPortal @SuperSportTV @MultiChoiceGRP @ProteasMenCSA #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/sMvCn3vNxx
— Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture (@zizikodwa) October 5, 2023
The SABC will broadcast all South African games, ‘including the semi-final, final and closing ceremony’.
The public can catch the Cricket World Cup 2023 for free on the following SABC platforms: SABC 3, sabcsport.com, and SABC Plus.
Seapolelo said that MultiChoice has restricted the broadcast of the world cup on OpenView HD.
“The SABC has formally lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission regarding this.”
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa said yesterday that he welcomed the commitment by the SABC and SuperSport to finding a way to allow all South Africans to watch the Proteas in action.
“The agreement may not be the best commercially for both parties, but I appreciate that in the national interest, they have found a win-win solution. Once more, I call for a permanent solution to the matter of sports broadcast rights which will allow all South Africans to watch sports of national interest.”
The Proteas’ first match is tomorrow, against Sri Lanka, in Delhi, India.
BREAKING NEWS | The SABC will be broadcasting the #CricketWorldCup2023 following further negotiations with the rights holder, Multichoice (SuperSport) for the sub-licensing of the free-to-air broadcasting rights. pic.twitter.com/2ZzzeTXLG5
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 5, 2023
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
