Once again the SABC will be left way behind

It was nothing short of a coup when MultiChoice secured a virtual monopoly on televising PSL games in the face of what many deemed a lame bid by SABC.

Now, with the PSL contract coming up for renewal, the national broadcaster is attempting to enter the TV football arena with a more meaningful, indeed respectable footing in providing more comprehensive viewing of local matches.

But with MultiChoice, through their SuperSport channels, firmly in the driver’s seat after extending an initial R1.6 billion bid to R2.2 billion to retain their rights, it is highly improbable a cash-strapped SABC will be able to achieve much in loosening the existing stranglehold.

What the national broadcaster apparently is attempting to achieve is a more respectable slice of the PSL market in the wake of grumbles and criticsm from fans without MultiChoice decoders.

MultiChoice, however, might not prove generous in this direction and an extremely cordial relationship with the PSL in which they even grant South Africa’s professional football body the universally unique right to televise and publicise reserve league matches, will to a large extent enable them to call the tune as they wish.

Also, the relationship between PSL chairman Irvin Khoza and SuperSport could hardly be any better and has figuratively been described as thick as thieves, with both bending over backwards to accommodate each other’s interests.