By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
MultiChoice and the SABC have reached an agreement for the public broadcaster to televise 16 of the 2023 Rugby World Cup’s 48 matches.
The agreement between the broadcasters comes on the eve of the first fixture between France and New Zealand on Friday.
MultiChoice confirmed that the agreement allows the SABC to broadcast 16 matches. The six-week-long affair will see a total of 48 games played, with the final set to take place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on 28 October.
According to a statement by MultiChoice, the SABC will be able to broadcast the following games:
- The opening ceremony and opening match;
- All Springbok games;
- Two quarter-final matches;
- One semi-final game;
- Bronze final; and
- The final game and closing ceremony.
The above fixtures will be available to SABC viewers even if the national team fails to make it past the knockout stages, MultiChocie confirmed.
“We are pleased to have reached an arrangement with the SABC in the spirit of cooperation,” CEO of MultiChoice SA Marc Jury said.
The nitty-gritty of the deal, such as how much the SABC is expected to fork out for the broadcasting rights, is still unclear.
The SABC said they were able to secure the rights with the help of partners, Hollywoodbets and South African Breweries.
The Rugby World Cup kicks off in Paris on Friday when hosts France take on New Zealand’s All Blacks. The Springboks will begin their campaign against Scotland on Sunday.