The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has confirmed that it is not going to broadcast the CAF Champions League final beween Al Ahly from Egypt and Kaizer Chiefs.
The final is going to be played at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco, on Saturday (21h00).
“The SABC was surprised and disappointed to learn yesterday that CAF had sold the exclusive rights to broadcast the final to the pay-TV broadcaster, SuperSport,” a statement from the public broadcaster said on Friday morning.
“Despite the SABC meeting CAF’s asking price for the free-to-air rights, the offer was rejected on the basis that CAF has signed an exclusive deal with SuperSport that covers all rights, including the free-to-air rights, for this match. The agreement between CAF and SuperSport is wrong as it places this showpiece of African club football behind a pay-wall, effectively denying millions of South African football fans the opportunity to watch the game”
In the statement, the SABC added that it had always intended to broadcast this match given Amakhosi’s massive following. “The public broadcaster therefore engaged in good faith negotiations with CAF but for some reason CAF withheld information about their exclusive deal with the pay-TV broadcaster until yesterday,” the SABC further stated.
“Considering the current difficult conditions in the country and the cohesive power of sport, the SABC has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the match would be accessible to all South Africans via our free-to-air channels. SABC management has also tried to reach out to the leadership of CAF in this regard.
“It simply cannot be in the public interest for CAF and SuperSport to contractually exclude millions of non-pay-TV subscribers from watching this game. Furthermore, it is disreputable for a pay-TV broadcaster to acquire free-to-air rights with the intention of blocking free-to-air broadcasters from using those rights. At a time when economic exclusion is the biggest issue facing South Africa, not only does this deal between CAF and SuperSport perpetuate the divide in our society. This is a very sad day for Kaizer Chiefs fans and all football lovers in South Africa when CAF, the custodian of the people’s game on the African continent, agrees to exclude millions of people who cannot afford pay-TV.”
