MultiChoice, operators of major satellite TV service provider in sub-Saharan Africa, DSTv is not happy with the proposed plan to make all South Africans, both rich and poor, watch all sports for free on South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
According to Jamie McKane of MyBroadband, the South African government wants to make major sports free to watch; and it is proposing new regulations to ensure all South Africans – rich and poor – are able to watch sports in the “public interest.”
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) is engaging with the Sabc, MultiChoice, eTV, Safa, PSL, Cricket SA, Boxing SA, Athletics South Africa, Saru, Netball SA and Sasco over the proposed list of “public interest” sports.
If the regulator gets its way, the free-to-air Sabc will broadcast many of the sporting events most popular in South Africa, currently exclusive to SuperSport.
Icasa’s proposed list includes the Rugby World Cup, the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, the cricket world cups (all formats) and many other top domestic and international rugby and soccer competitions.
Meanwhile, MultiChoice (owner of DStv) has released a statement saying they prefer the status quo to remain.
Source: capetalk.co.za
