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Date
: 25/07/2003
Source: Ministry of Sport and Recreation
Title: Balfour: Regulations on sports broadcasting rights
COMMENTS BY THE MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION, NGCONDE BALFOUR,
ON THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF A POSITION PAPER AND REGULATIONS ON SPORTS
BROADCASTING RIGHTS, BY THE INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF
SOUTH AFRICA (ICASA), Friday, 25 July 2003
PRETORIA - The launch of the Position Paper and Regulations on
Sorts Broadcasting Rights by Icasa is the culmination of a lengthy
and intensive process of negotiations and discussions between
stakeholders in sport, members of the public and the broadcasting
authority.
It is a process that started during the term of office of my
predecessor, the late Steve Tshwete, and involved intense debate on
the right of access to the broadcasting of sports events by the
general public.
It is an unfortunate reality that the majority of South Africans
have for years been denied this right as a result of the
introduction of subscription television in this country.
Free-to-air television had virtually been starved of coverage of
sports events of a national interest as a result of commercial
considerations.
The regulations issued by Icasa should have the effect of reversing
this trend. Whilst the list of sporting events of national interest
issued by Icasa might not satisfy everyone, it is a crucial step in
the direction of completely opening up the sports airwaves to the
benefit of all South Africans. If we want to succeed in getting the
majority of South Africans to actively participate in sport, we
must ensure that there is affordable and easy access to the
broadcasting of sports events.
These regulations should never be seen as an end in itself. It
does, however, provide a solid foundation, and already we are
seeing the impact of cooperation between broadcasting licensees
with the return of sports such as rugby and tennis to the screens
of the public broadcaster.
Icasa, undoubtedly, had the task of finding a balance between the
right of public access to the broadcasting of sport events and the
interests of national sport federations as the holders of
broadcasting rights. In addition, the interests of the broadcasting
industry, and in particular, the programming obligations of the
public broadcaster, should have been paramount in drafting the
regulations.
Whether the published regulations will succeed in its goal, will be
realistically determined by the level of cooperation now expected
between broadcasters. An obligation is now placed on all
broadcasters to negotiate in good faith. The public will remain
vigilant in protecting its rights as spelt out in the
regulations.
Any attempt to hide behind or even to manipulate the regulations
could only result in further consideration being given to
revisiting legislation that provides for the broadcasting of
national sporting events.
Issued by BMN Balfour, MP, Minister of Sport and Recreation
Enquiries: Graham Abrahams at 082 453 2244
25 July 2003
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