SABC laments cost of sports broadcasting
MARY JANE MPHAHLELE
THE Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) says it may consider reviewing its Sports Broadcasting Regulations after the cash-strapped SABC told Parliament that the costs of sports broadcasting is too high.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications is expected today to receive a briefing from Icasa on the regulations.
The regulator’s spokesperson, Paseka Maleka, said a review of Icasa’s regulations was on the cards and would be considered if proved to be necessary. “The meeting will focus on the sports regulations that we currently have. The review of the regulations is a normal thing that happens. We are still dealing with the regulations of 2010. There is a possibility that they will be reviewed,” said Paseka.
The public broadcaster has lost more than R2.3 billion in revenue in six years as a result of broadcasting football on radio and television.
As per Icasa regulations, the public broadcaster is expected to air 22 designated sporting codes which is onerous for the corporation and it faces a fine of R500 000 for failing to comply.
Last week during a press briefing on the acquisition of sports rights by the public broadcaster, the chief operations officer, Chris Maroleng, said the manner in which rights were acquired was not beneficial for the parties involved and was financially disadvantaging the SABC.
He said the SABC had incurred a R398 million loss annually in flighting the PSL, Bafana Bafana and CAF matches from 2012 to 2018.
The SABC claimed it was burdened by the sports rights which required significant finance and honouring the 22 national sports events in line with regulations passed by Icasa. It wanted the regulator to review the regulations.
The DA’s Phumzile van Damme threw her weight behind approaching Icasa to review the sports broadcasting regulations.
She also urged the public broadcaster to develop a proper turnaround plan, and agreed that the regulations were proving costly for the SABC.
“We will have to hear from Icasa tomorrow what options they are providing. “At this point it is literally about the sports rights being expensive, and being expensive (the SABC) cannot afford them. Icasa will have to provide us with their solutions on this matter,” Van Damme said yesterday.