Bafana TV rights are ours: SABC

05 August 2014 - 02:08 By Andile Ndlovu
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GREAT PRETENDER: Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
GREAT PRETENDER: Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
Image: GALLO IMAGES

A bullish SABC is going to war over the rights to broadcast national soccer team's matches live.

SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng held a meeting with the SA Football Association yesterday at which Bafana Bafana TV rights were discussed.

It was reported on Sunday that Safa had sold the rights to newcomer Siyaya TV.

After the meeting, Motsoeneng alleged on Metro FM that Safa had denied all the comments attributed to its spokesman, Dominic Chimhavi, and to its CEO, Dennis Mumble.

He said negotiations to secure Safa TV rights for the SABC for a further five years would start today. The current three-year deal ends in April next year.

Weekend newspapers reported that Safa had sealed a R1-billion broadcasting deal with Siyaya TV.

Said Motsoeneng: " Safa has clarified the matter. What they said to us is that the newspaper reports are not true.

"We have a contract with Safa until next year [and] we're going to negotiate a renewal of that contract from tomorrow (Tuesday).

"For us, sports of national interest should be on SABC. we're happy that they've cleared those allegations.

"I don't even know Siyaya. When you negotiate, you talk about your audience [and] the history of that corporation. Even Fifa, when they negotiate, they prioritise the SABC."

Approached for comment on yesterday' s meeting, Safa spokesman Dominic Chimhavi said: "No chance, mate."

In parliament last year, Safa said it had signed deals with satellite stations because it had earned only R270-million from broadcast rights from the SABC, said to be only 10% of what cricket and rugby earned.

Sekoetlane Phamodi, coordinator of the group SOS: Support Public Broadcasting, said the international matches in question were of "national importance" and that fans would be the biggest losers should Safa choose Siyaya TV over the SABC.

City Press reported on Sunday that the 100% black-owned Siyaya consortium consisted of former Post Office CEO Vuyo Mahlati, former SABC2 general manager Thandi Ramathesele, Transnet Freight Rail CEO Siyabonga Gama, Aubrey Tau and Dali Tambo.

The rural North West community of Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela reportedly owns a 40% stake.

The newspaper quoted Mumble as saying: "Yes, we have signed a new major broadcast deal and have informed the SABC. Unfortunately, that's all I can say as we will be making an official announcement soon."

Phamodi said it was important that "premium content" was made more accessible to the public broadcaster "so we can preserve it as an institution and improve public confidence and interest in it".

"When Safa sells content to the highest bidder, it's obviously in the interest of business.

"But surely they should ensure that the content is accessible to the SABC and play a role in building our broadcaster and enable the public to feel they are part of this country. Are they placing profit before people?"

DA sports spokesman Solly Malatsi said yesterday: " As the available details of this new deal stand, millions of soccer fans who can't afford tickets to watch Bafana Bafana might no longer be able to watch these matches in the comfort of their homes either."

Attempt to get comment from Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula failed.

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