JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 30: The SABC building on June 30, 2009, in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / Business Day / Tyrone Arthur)
Embattled SABC will not reveal the cost of the EPL deal
SABC confirmed that due to commercially sensitive information, the SABC cannot divulge the figures of the deal.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 30: The SABC building on June 30, 2009, in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / Business Day / Tyrone Arthur)
On Wednesday, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) stated that it, unfortunately, could not provide more information regarding the cost of the English Premier League (EPL) deal.
This, according to the embattled broadcaster, is due to the sensitive nature of the information. However, it did confirm that it was much cheaper than its investment in other local sporting events.
How did SABC afford the EPL deal?
South Africans, who are well aware of the financial woes faced by the SABC, were shocked when, on Tuesday, it revealed that EPL matches would now be aired every Saturday from 16:00 Central African Time (CAT).
According to the SABC, the free-to-air rights have been subcontracted for one season, from Kwese Sport, who is the main rights holder.
Read – SABC set to broadcast live English Premier League games
Neo Momodu, the SABC’s spokesperson, in a statement, shared the unfortunate news that the broadcaster, was compelled to keep the makeup of this deal in the dark.
He added that
“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 SABC 3.”
What is comprised in the free-to-air package?
The EPL 2018/2019 season kicked off on Friday, 10 August. Therefore, the SABC will commence with broadcasting matchday 3.
The free-to-air package secured by the SABC will broadcast 33 games for this season. Now, there are 38 matchdays in one EPL season, so although it has not been confirmed, don’t expect to catch all the EPL games this season.
On Tuesday, the SABC board, addressing Parlament, admitted that it was, indeed, in a horrible financial state.
It was revealed that it had a total of R26m in its bank account, with R694m owed to creditors.
“Given the SABC’s current funding model, the corporation has to find commercially viable products to invest in, in order to realise returns which it will reinvest into its public service mandate content.”
Struggling to secure the broadcasting rights to air Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana games, one can only wonder how the broadcaster was able to win over this lucrative deal.
Momodu confirmed that it was in talks with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and SuperSport to find a way to overlook the R50m debt and bring international football back to our screens.
He also added that
“the low investment into the English Premier League will allow a greater return on investment which will go some way into SABC being able to meet its non-financial viable investments, particularly sports of national interest and news.”
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