SABC tight-lipped on costs of EPL broadcast deal

THE SABC said yesterday it could not divulge the figures of the English Premier League matches deal due to “commercially sensitive information”, but said the cost to the broadcaster was minimal compared to its investment in local sporting codes.

On Tuesday, the public broadcaster announced its sports division had acquired the free-to-air broadcast rights for the English Premier League, which will allow it to broadcast English football matches on SABC3 on Saturdays at 4pm.

The SABC said the rights have been sub-licensed from Kwese Sport for one season. “Due to commercially sensitive information, the SABC cannot divulge the figures of the deal. However, the cost to the SABC is minimal compared to its investment into other local sporting codes,” SABC spokesperson Neo Momodu said.

“The acquisition of the English Premier League sports rights is a strategic decision to further diversify the channel’s content offering, as well as regain viewers. The acquisition of these sports rights are also in line with the repositioning of SABC3.”

The free-to-air rights package consists of 33 live matches per season selected by the English Premier League.

The SABC board said in Parliament on Tuesday the broadcaster was in a tough financial position, with only R26 million left in its bank account while it owes R694m to creditors.

“The low investment into the English Premier League will allow a greater return on investment which will go some way (towards) SABC being able to meet its non-financial viable investments,” said Momodu.

The SABC was reportedly unable to broadcast matches of Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana after it failed to negotiate favourable terms with the South African Football Association, which it owes R50m. – African News Agency (ANA)