The cricketing world is abuzz with excitement as the 2023 Cricket World Cup kicks off in India. The tournament begins with a thrilling rematch of the 2019 final, featuring the reigning champions, England, against the runners-up, New Zealand. However, there’s a catch: if you don’t have DStv, you might miss out on all the cricketing action.
The 2019 World Cup final left fans on the edge of their seats as England clinched victory in a dramatic superover against New Zealand. Now, as the 2023 edition commences, cricket enthusiasts worldwide eagerly anticipate a high-octane rematch between these two cricketing powerhouses.
While the excitement for the World Cup is palpable, there’s a cloud of uncertainty hanging over South African cricket fans. The reason? A deadlock in negotiations between Multichoice and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has left South African viewers without access to live broadcasts of the tournament.
This situation is eerily reminiscent of the recent Rugby World Cup broadcasting rights dispute. Fortunately, that dispute concluded with both parties reaching an agreement. However, the cricketing community finds itself in a similar predicament, and the stakes are high.
The SABC expressed its disappointment in an official statement, saying, “Following extensive negotiations with Multichoice for the sub-leasing of the Cricket World Cup 2023 free-to-air broadcasting rights, the SABC regrets to announce that the corporation was not successful in securing these rights for South African audiences.”
The SABC’s inability to secure broadcasting rights for such a significant event is a blow to cricket fans across the nation.
On the other side of the table, Multichoice, which owns the broadcasting rights, expressed frustration with the SABC’s stance. The SABC reportedly rejected significantly reduced commercial terms for the rights, leading to the current standoff.
“The SABC has once again been disadvantaged in securing the broadcasting rights for one of the sporting codes classified as sport of national interest…”
As the World Cup unfolds, South African cricket fans find themselves in a frustrating position. Access to live broadcasts is necessary for them to experience their favorite teams and players in action on the world stage.
The 2023 Cricket World Cup promises to be a cricketing spectacle of the highest order. However, the unfortunate broadcasting dispute between Multichoice and the SABC has cast a shadow over the tournament’s accessibility to South African viewers.
