The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) could match an offer by SuperSport to screen Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches, the public broadcaster reported on Wednesday.
However, it was not prepared to overpay for the broadcasting rights, SABC chief executive Dali Mpofu told MPs.
He was briefing a joint meeting of Parliament’s portfolio committees of communications, and of sport and recreation.
Sport and recreation committee chairperson Butana Khompela agreed with Mpofu, saying it would be wrong to enrich some at the expense of the majority of South Africa.
Khompela called for an investigation into the matter.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa said the government should not intervene in the saga.
”It would be irresponsible for ministers and Parliament to intervene in this fracas and rescue the SABC from its own mistakes,” he said in a statement.
”The public should understand that we are dealing with two separate entities here — a state-funded broadcaster and a private institution — which have their own mandate from their constituency for developing and promoting soccer.”
PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza announced last week that pay channel SuperSport had been awarded the R1-billion exclusive right to broadcast league matches for the next five years.
This gave rise to fears that the bulk of soccer fans would not have the opportunity to watch PSL matches on television.
Holomisa said it was clear the SABC had ample opportunity to improve its offer, as the PSL first approached it on October 16 to discuss the television rights, and they failed.
”That process led to a dispute and even went to the high court. The judge made it clear that if the arbitration between the SABC and the PSL was not completed by May 25 2007, then the SABC interdict preventing the PSL from negotiating with other broadcasters would fall away.”
The party said it was aware that the matter was still before the arbitrator.
”Legally speaking, the SABC seems to have no case if they failed to comply with their own court order.
”The arbitrator also seems to be in breach of that court order, since even weeks later there is still no indication that the arbitrator is wrapping up the matter.”
It said the PSL was a business entity and entitled to award the rights to the highest bidder.
”If the leadership of the PSL runs out of money to pay clubs, they can’t run to the minister of finance like a spoilt child begging for a bail-out, whereas the SABC is in the red and knows that they can always plead for more taxpayer money whenever they err.”
Meanwhile, e.tv said on Wednesday it had secured the free-to-air rights to broadcast the Telkom Charity Cup from SuperSport.
”e.tv has always been keen to get involved in broadcasting local soccer,” said channel director Bronwyn Keene-Young.
”This is a perfect opportunity to be involved with such an important charity event and launch our involvement in the promotion of local soccer.”
The channel said it was currently in negotiations with SuperSport regarding the free-to-air rights for league matches. — Sapa