Cape Town — South Africa’s most renowned sports broadcaster, SuperSport, has rebuffed the claims made by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, that the two parties have struck an agreement over broadcasting Springbok games.
Speaking during the presidential Imbizo, McKenzie offered good news to sports fans when he announced that everyone will be able to watch the next game between the Springboks and the All Blacks, with no decoder needed, Newzroom Afrika reported.
“I’ve got very good news. When the Springboks are playing, when Bafana Bafana is playing, only those with DSTV decoders can watch the games. I am going to speak about it in cabinet but I had a meeting with SuperSport and we agreed that everyone will get an opportunity to watch the next game of the All Blacks,” he said.
Pay television broadcaster SuperSport insists it has not reached any agreements with other broadcasters with regard to Rugby Championship matches featuring the Springboks. SuperSport’s statement comes after Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie intimated at the Presidential Imbizo… pic.twitter.com/lJ7uVxyt6x
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 23, 2024
In response to McKenzie’s comments, SuperSport said it had not reached any agreements with other broadcasters to show the Rugby Championship games and Supersport remained the primary broadcaster.
“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. SuperSport will bring the Springboks-All Blacks matches live to DStv viewers,” the broadcaster said.
McKenzie was later forced to defend his comments on X when one user had alleged that McKenzie lied about the deal, he responded and said nobody lied and he had full intentions to meet the expectations of the nation.
In another X post, he said it would be unfair to expect SuperSport to show matches for free so the government’s task it make sure that everyone is able to watch the game.
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 https://t.co/Trp7xjVE0P
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) August 24, 2024
I have been clear that it will be unfair of government to expect @SuperSportTV to show matches for free, matches that they have paid for, it is our task to make sure that we as government play our part in making sure our people also get to watch their national teams.
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) August 24, 2024
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Picture: X/@Lebona_cabonena
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
