Broadcast rights might be changed by the new boxing Bill Deon Potgieter Section 29 of the new boxing Bill has caused a stir within the boxing fraternity. If passed, it could have major ramifications on the sport as we know it. Some say it would lead to the demise of boxing in South Africa. Others say it would open doorways of opportunities for our less well-known promoters. The Department of Sport and Recreation’s portfolio committee has, to its credit, invited those concerned to present any objections so the Bill can be reviewed before it’s taken before Parliament on October 5. The issue causing all the problems is that of broadcast rights. Boxing South Africa (BSA), which will officially replace the South African National Boxing Control Commission once the legislation is passed, sought to attain the right to assign broadcast rights to promoters. The clause would also allow the BSA itself to take up broadcast rights. “Speaking purely from a legal view,” says Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves, the biggest and most influential boxing promoter in the country, “if that clause [Section 29] is allowed to go through and the BSA is allowed to reallocate broadcast rights, it would be tantamount to interfering with concluded contracts. It would be unconstitutional and would give rise to a host of legal disputes.” Bert Blewett, who was intrinsically involved in setting up the report commissioned by then minister of sport Steve Tshwete that served as a guideline for the Bill, says: “Section 29 was not in the original draft. Although the idea was mentioned to me I was surprised to find it included in the draft submitted, as I had pointed out the flaws and unconstitutional nature if it. I’m sure even the International Boxing Association would not stand for it.” Dumile Mateza, interim CEO of the National Boxing Commission, will present a document to the portfolio committee on Friday, September 22, stating, among other things, that: “In essence the commission seeks to address the unfair distribution of the rights regarding broadcasting. The majority of our promoters are not skilled in this area of business negotiation. M-Net SuperSport deals with one promoter only, all other promoters have to be accommodated by SABC Topsport, who are not equipped to cater for all promoters.” Mateza, who went to Cape Town on Wednesday to prepare for his presentation, said: “We want SuperSport to broaden its net and support other promoters.” Another major reason for the BSA wanting to hold the broadcasting rights is so it could use these rights as leverage in negotiating sponsorships and thereby making boxing self-sufficient. Currently South African broadcasters determine broadcast rights with the promoters and the commission has little say in how they are dispersed. Mateza’s argument is that it will be the BSA’s job to regulate the sport once legislation has been passed, and would have difficulty raising sponsorship if it did not have a say in the broadcasting rights. Mateza admitted that the way Section 29 is drafted was confusing and proposed it be changed to a similar provision used by the British Boxing Control Commission, whereby written permission is to be obtained by promoters from the commission before concluding any broadcasting arrangements. Alternatively, he suggests broadcasters, promoters and the commission sit down together to work out a broadcasting rights agreement.
The bottom line, however, is that there are legal contracts in place with regard to broadcast rights between promoters, boxers and broadcasters that would still have to be honoured. There seems to be a big battle brewing on the boxing front and unfortunately it’s not going to be in the ring.
n Namibian Harry Simon makes the third defence of his World Boxing Organisation world junior- middleweight title in the United States on Saturday. Simon, who recently cut ties with trainer Brian Mitchell, has signed a three- fight deal with TV giant ShowTime – this bout being the first of the three. The big- hitting Simon is undefeated in 19 bouts with 16 knockouts and faces American Rodney Jones who has 24 wins, two losses with 13 knockouts. Next to sprinter Frankie Fredericks, Simon is Namibia’s most famous sportsman and is on the verge of becoming an international star.