Words such as “a groundbreaking contract”, “a historic moment” and “a new era” were used to describe the signing of a three-year broadcasting deal between the SABC and the SA Football Association on Tuesday.
The deal – which will see Safa pocketing a cool R215 million – covers matches involving Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana (their female counterparts) and the under-23 men’s football team.
But despite all the gloating about the deal by the SABC and Safa’s bigwigs on Tuesday, concerns remain about the deal.
Firstly, the much-vaunted contract covers only the official Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches national teams will play on home turf – meaning there could yet be a blackout of matches played away.
This is because the SABC is yet to agree terms with France-based Sports Five, the company that owns exclusive broadcasting rights for Confederation of African Football matches.
Secondly, the deal stipulates that the SABC will be obliged to broadcast only four matches involving Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana and the under-23s a year.
“Further matches will be broadcast should schedule and programming permit,” reads the statement handed to journalists, raising suspicions that soapies such as Generations could take precedence over soccer matches.
Except for the under-23s, the rest of the junior national teams are not covered in the deal – raising questions about Safa’s commitment to development.
Until Tuesday, the SABC had been negotiating broadcasting contracts on a game-by-game basis. The public broadcaster’s group CEO, Lulama Makhobo, conceded that the practice had been extremely stressful.
If the guarantees made on Tuesday are anything to go by, the days of a change in schedule of live matches, or complete blackouts, that have almost became the SABC’s trademark, could be something of the past.
In terms of the contract, the SABC has to announce any matches to be beamed live three months before kick-off.
“Not even a tsunami will move it (broadcasting schedule). If we say a Banyana Banyana (match will be broadcast live), it will happen. No longer changing schedules,” Makhobo said.
SABC acting chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng added: “Delayed matches are not working for our own audience… (Even) broadcasting matches from watching TV (in the studio) won’t happen.”
He warned Safa that the deal would not be a blank cheque, as it hinged on Bafana’s performance.
It was also confirmed on Tuesday that the SABC would cover the London Olympics next month. - The Star