The Premier Soccer League(PSL) has confirmed that the SABC will not broadcast the opening weekend’s fixtures on both radio and television. The public broadcaster failed to reach an agreement with the rights holders Supersport to broadcast the matches.
In a statement released today, the PSL said “Up until the beginning of this week we were made to believe the final bits were being ironed out towards yet another exciting season that the majority consume on free to air television provided by the SABC.”
“In hindsight, we should have made more of the question by an SABC journalist after the Board of Governors meeting two days ago, on Thursday 1 August 2019, when he revealed that there was no scheduling of weekend matches to be broadcast by the SABC. Knowing what we know now, it is evident that the SABC had already prepared for a “blackout”.
The PSL said “it is maybe time that the nation accept that the SABC is incapable of meeting its requirements since a “blackout” to the majority who consume their football through free to air television and radio is unacceptable going forward”.
The PSL season starts this afternoon with Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United clashing in the Tshwane Derby at 3pm.