Issued by: Ministry of Sport and Recreation
PRESS RELEASE
The Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Steve Tshwete, MP, was briefed by a delegation of the SABC led by the Chief Executive, Mr Zwelakhe Sisulu and other Senior Executives on the issue of sports and broadcasting rights. The meeting was also attended by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communication, Mr Saki Macozomo, MP, and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Ms Lulu Xingwana, MP.
The SABC team explained the context in which the bidding for certain sporting rights is taking place and the measure it is taking to ensure that ordinary South Africans have access to major national events. It became clear in the meeting that there are short term and long term solutions to the problems arising out of the extreme commercialisation of sport.
The Minister and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications committed themselves to the facilitation of a dialogue between South African broadcasters which will establish a modus vivendi between the public broadcaster and pay channels. Such a dialogue will be treated as a matter of urgency.
In the long-term the SABC has got proposals that will enable the public broadcaster to be competitive in the sports and other fields of entertainment. These proposals will be put to the various policy stake holders including the Portfolio Committee on Communications and the IBA. The Ministry of Sport, on the other hand, is exploring a number of long term policy options with regard to this matter.
Issued by: Mr Steve Tshwete Minister of Sport and Recreation