Talks between the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and SuperSport to resume the telecast of all CAF-organised matches, have failed to reach an agreement.
Insideworldfootball on Wednesday reports that, a CAF spokesman indicated that the continental football governing body will be seeking an alternative solution to ensure that fans in sub-Saharan Africa, where SuperSport operates, are able to watch matches organised by the body.
“CAF took note of SuperSport’s decision [to stop the telecast of matches] and is taking the necessary steps to ensure that the matches scheduled to be broadcast by SuperSport are broadcasted by other sources, so that football fans can continue to follow CAF competitions,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, it is clear that SuperSport is seeking to permanently terminate its $130 million contract with CAF.
The current scenario could give SuperSport the ability to renegotiate the current rights fee and pay a far lower rate, which would have a negative impact on CAF’s balance sheet.
As the only pan-African broadcaster with the financial muscle to pay significant sums for TV rights, their monopoly-status gives them huge advantage in any possible re-negotiations with CAF.
For CAF, the problem is multiplied by the platforms SuperSport provides for CAF’s sponsors, which gives them value for their CAF commitments in a disrupted marketplace.
However The SA Football Association (Safa) and Confederation of African Football (Caf) are working to try to resolve a TV blackout in South Africa of Caf games so that fans in this country can view tonight’s match between Bafana Bafana and Ghana.
Caf are reportedly exploring either giving the rights for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier to the SA Broadcast Corporation (SABC)‚ or televising it in South Africa on Youtube.