The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the South African Football Association (SAFA) have reached a four year agreement on the broadcast rights of SAFA matches and events.
SABC and SAFA were at loggerheads late last year owing to the disagreement about the contract negotiations which led to the public not watching Bafana Bafana on the national broadcaster’s TV channels, nor listening to the matches on its radio stations.
The SABC’s Group Chief Executive Officer Madoda Mxakwe says, “In negotiating this deal with SAFA, the SABC needed to find a balance between fulfilling its public mandate and entering into an agreement which was commercially viable. We understand the role we play in promoting sports of national interest, and inspiring the next generation of sports stars.”
SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan says the agreement was a welcome development, considering the SABC’s public reach and influence.
“As SAFA, we are pleased to have finally come to an agreement with the public broadcaster which is in the public interest and the good of the game. After protracted negotiations, it is great that the public will once again get to watch Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana and other national team’s matches on SABC, in addition to various other important football development programmes, that has seen SAFA make a major impact on football on the continent” says Jordaan.
SAFA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Russell Paul says, “We are extremely delighted that the Nation will finally get to see their beloved Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana on the SABC screens again. Both SAFA and SABC have been hard at work over the past few months to ensure that these matches can be broadcast and this augers well for the greater aspect of development funding to Women’s Football and general grassroots football.”
The agreement will annually cover:
– 6 Bafana Bafana matches (3 home AFCON qualifiers; 2 international friendlies and the Nelson Mandela Challenge)
– 5 Banyana Banyana home friendly matches, inclusive of the Winnie Mandela Challenge
– Domestic competitions including the U/19 Women’s National Championship Final, Burger King U/20 National Championships Final, U/23 Men’s National Championships FINALS, ABC Motsepe National Play Offs Final, KAY Motsepe Schools Final, Futsal and Beach Football National Championships FINALS as well as the SASOL Womens League Finals and various SAFA National Womens League matches
– A weekly SAFA magazine show; and the
– SAFA Annual Awards.
SABC Spokesperson, Vuyo Mthembu says the SABC will broadcast the Nelson Mandela Challenge between Mali and Bafana Bafana on Sunday.
“As part of the agreement, the SABC will be broadcasting the Nelson Mandela challenge and Mali taking place today live on SABC 1 at 3pm. As the SABC, we are happy that in concluding this deal, we’ll be able to fulfil our mandate of promoting sports of national interest and inspiring the next generation of sports stars.”
– Additional reporting SABC
