PSL sponsors set to pull out due to SABC blackout
The Premier Soccer League could lose several sponsors if they can’t come to an agreement with the SABC.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) building. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark
According to reports, PSL sponsors are not happy with the amount of television and radio coverage for PSL games in the new season.
The SABC has not broadcast any PSL games since the start of the 2019/2020 season on their radio or television platforms.
SABC confirmed before the start of the season that they had not reached an agreement with broadcast holders SuperSport to screen the Absa Premiership and cancelled the commentary of matches on their radio stations.
Earlier this month, the SABC briefed government that 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.
SABC executives further stated that over the past five years, the public broadcaster incurred a loss of R1.3 billion in relation to the broadcast of PSL matches, leading to a decision that any agreement entered into should be financially sound and sustainable for the business.
The PSL’s initial statement about the impasse declared that “maybe (it’s) time that the nation accept that the SABC is incapable of meeting its requirements” and went on to say that this situation was “unacceptable going forward”.
PSL spokesperson Lux September has dismissed the reports that sponsors are threatening to pull out over the SABC blackout impasse.
“Lies repeated,” wrote September on his Twitter account.
LIES REPEATED.
Did you speak to the sponsors? Spreading panic and untruths ! https://t.co/138l8VLO0i— Lux September (@Lux_September) August 19, 2019
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