Blackout threat to broadcast of big Bafana game

The crucial Afcon qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Seychelles at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on October 13 is in danger of a public television blackout as the SABC and Safa are yet to agree on a broadcast deal for the match.

A last-minute deal was struck between the SABC and Safa earlier in September to televise the Afcon qualifier between Bafana and Libya at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban‚ and it remains to be seen if the parties will come to an agreement again this time around.

The contract between Safa and the SABC has expired and a new deal is yet to be agreed upon.

At the centre of the dispute is an amount believed to be about R50m that Safa claims the SABC still owes it from the previous agreement.

“From a Safa point of view‚ we have nothing more to say regarding this issue‚” Safa spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi said.

“We have left it in the hands of the SABC.”

SABC chief operating officer Chris Maroleng said they were engaging Safa‚ but could not say if the match would be televised.

“When we have concluded the discussions we will come to the public and jointly make the announcement.”

The public broadcaster also does not have the rights to televise Springbok matches.

Maroleng admitted it would benefit millions of South Africans to have senior national rugby team matches televised on the SABC.

“We would love to take the Springboks live for the people of SA because it would be amazing.

“We would like to partner with the South African Rugby Union [Saru]‚ but at the moment there is nothing because the rights have been acquired by another company.”

On Tuesday, the SABC and Cricket South Africa announced their broadcast partnership regarding the T20 League later in the year.

“We are a public broadcaster and all we are interested in is giving our audience‚ who in the main are the disadvantaged people of SA‚ the opportunity to watch the best sports without paying a lot of money.

“So our strategy is to focus on enhancing the audience value and we are also interested in developing awareness of all the sporting codes,” Maroleng said.

“CSA came to us and said let’s have a partnership so that more South Africans can enjoy and understand cricket.

“Imagine a young kid in the rural area somewhere in the country watching the matches on television deciding to take a bat and start playing cricket.

“It is not about domination but offering the people who love sport the opportunity.”