Malatsi to meet with all 3 broadcasters over sports broadcasting rights

CAPE TOWN - Communications Minister Solly Malatsi is set to meet with all three broadcasters to settle longstanding sports broadcasting rights.

He said the environment for the SABC and free-to-air sports broadcasting was still facing major challenges, with most or all major sporting events going to pay channels like MultiChoice.

The Communications and Digital Technologies minister made the undertaking while tabling his maiden R3.9 billion budget following his appointment in the Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet.

Minister Malatsi said that while the SABC was working hard to create an environment for free-to-air sports broadcasting to prosper, the company was still facing massive challenges.

This is precisely why he and his sports counterpart, Gayton McKenzie, would be meeting with broadcasters as early as this week.

"It is for this reason that we will be convening a meeting with the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture and the three broadcasters - SABC, eMedia and MultiChoice - this week to explore ways that can help resolve some of the impasses regarding sports broadcasting rights in our country."

But Malatsi said things were moving in the right direction in other areas at the public broadcaster, which was increasing viewership on its free SABC+ app.

He said they would also mediate in the SABC's ongoing debt dispute with Sentech.