SABC to broadcast Rugby World Cup final live

The SABC said on Monday that is has secured broadcast rights for the Rubgy World Cup final between South Africa and England.

The public broadcaster will air the game live at 11am on Saturday, 2 November, on SABC2, after reaching an agreement with MultiChoice subsidiary SuperSport.

SuperSport has exclusive rights in South Africa to broadcast this year’s tournament on its DStv platform.

The SABC will also broadcast the match for the third place playoff between New Zealand and Wales on Friday, 1 November, the broadcaster said in a statement.

“The SABC is excited to be able to bring this historic game to the nation as the public broadcaster recognises the role it plays in social cohesion, nation building and promoting sports of national interest,” said CEO Madoda Mxakwe in a statement.

“We remain committed to entering into commercially viable agreements…,” he added.

Price not disclosed

Mxakwe did not disclose how much the SABC will pay MultiChoice for the right to rebroadcast the two games.

Earlier this month, government announced that the SABC would receive a R2.1-billion bailout as an initial tranche of a R3.2-billion funding arrangement agreed to by national treasury.

The remaining R1.1-billion rand will be transferred to the SABC once the public broadcaster fully meets the remaining three outstanding conditions or firmly demonstrates evidence to fully comply, the department of communications & digital technologies said in an e-mailed statement at the time.  — (c) 2019 NewsCentral Media