The SABC and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) have returned to the negotiation table to try to find common ground, the SABC reported on Monday.
This comes two weeks after the PSL awarded soccer rights to pay channel SuperSport International in a deal worth more than R1-billion .
Although the awarding of the rights to Supersport cannot be reversed, the PSL feels the public broadcaster still has an important role to play.
PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza said in terms of the broadcasting act the issue of free-to-air was "very important".
He said there were elements in the agreement with SuperSport that would impact on the free-to-air channels, therefore there was merit in having a discussion.
SABC group chief executive Dali Mpofu said Monday's meeting was open-ended.
He said specific issues would be dealt with at a follow-up meeting on Thursday.
"We have requested the meeting and therefore we will place certain issues on the table and the PSL also placed certain issues and we agreed on some kind of working agenda.
"The first meeting was obviously always going to be exploratory and that's why we have agreed to meet now on more specific issues on Thursday.
"I must add that I think both parties really regard this matter as a matter that has to be resolved as soon as possible," he said. - Sapa