SuperSport has hit back at Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie’s claims that the upcoming clashes between the Springboks and New Zealand in Mzansi will be shown on SABC.
The world champion Boks face the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship on 31 August at Ellis Park, before a 7 September duel in Cape Town, in a rematch of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.
McKenzie, SA’s sports, arts and culture minister, recently announced at a presidential imbizo in Johannesburg that these high-profile matches would air on public broadcaster SABC, even for viewers without a decoder.
“I met with SuperSport, and I’m happy to say you’ll be able to watch the Springboks and New Zealand game without a decoder,” McKenzie was quoted in the media.
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However, pay channel SuperSport has refuted this, stating no agreement had been reached with any broadcaster for these much-anticipated fixtures.
“Contrary to news reports, at this stage, SuperSport has not concluded agreements with any broadcaster for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches, including the Springboks-All Blacks matches,” the broadcaster said in a statement late on Friday.
“SuperSport will bring the Springboks-All Blacks matches live to DStv viewers.”
McKenzie, though, has stood by his remarks, responding on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Nobody lied here,we know the terms and expectation from the right holder for us 2 make this available, we intent to fully meet those expectations in the interest of the nation. This is not a normal game, this is the anniversary of the most important rugby game. Let talk in a week”
This controversy comes after the SABC had to cancel its coverage of the Bok-Ireland series last month, following litigation over broadcast rights.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
