Ahead of the Rugby World Cup starting this week, Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture Zizi Kodwa has urged the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to fix its affairs with SuperSport in securing a sub-licensing of broadcast rights to the highly anticipated 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The minister says he is concerned that millions of South Africans might miss the Rugby World Cup if the SABC can’t show the matches.
“I am concerned at how millions of South Africans may be unable to watch the Rugby World Cup should the SABC not be able to broadcast matches in the tournament. My commitment is to give South Africans access to all sports codes,” the Minister said on Monday.
Mybroadband reports that the SABC is declining to give MultiChoice $2 million (R37.7 million) for the broadcasting rights, which MultiChoice presently has the exclusive rights to for all the tournament’s live matches in South Africa.
Kodwa urged the SABC to find a solution to the matter so that the public broadcaster can be able to fulfill its mandate to cover sports of national interest.
“I am hopeful that an agreement will be reached between SABC and SuperSport. Rugby plays a critical role in nation building and social cohesion. It is important that millions of South African can watch the Springboks continuing to lift the nation at the Rugby World Cup,” Kodwa said.
The highly-anticipated 2023 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to kick off from Friday, 8 September to Saturday, 28 October 2023.
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