South Africa May Challenge MultiChoice’s Sports Broadcast Dominance

South Africa vs. MultiChoice Sports Dominance: South Africa is preparing to take on MultiChoice, the country’s leading pay-TV operator, over its monopoly on live sports broadcasts through its subsidiary SuperSport. 

The South African sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, has issued a stern warning to MultiChoice, stating that his ministry is ready to battle the company if a resolution cannot be reached to allow all South Africans to watch their national sports teams on local stations.

McKenzie argues that it is unacceptable for a single broadcaster to control access to sports games featuring the country’s national teams. 

He emphasizes that the national team belongs to the people of South Africa, not to MultiChoice, SABC, or E-TV. 

The minister is determined to ensure that the majority of South Africans can watch their national rugby and soccer teams without hindrance.

The minister’s statement, although described as a friendly warning, carries a strong message. 

He has made it clear that he is willing to take legal action against MultiChoice if necessary, stating, “I intend to fully use that legislation. We are meeting with them. As we say we come in peace, but if they want war, they will get war”.

Ongoing Battle Over Broadcast Rights

This move by the South African government comes amid ongoing battles between eMedia, the owner of E-TV, and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) against MultiChoice’s exclusive broadcast rights for sports games. 

MultiChoice currently holds the exclusive rights to broadcast live matches featuring the national rugby and cricket teams.

In July 2024, MultiChoice rejected an offer from eMedia to broadcast Springbok rugby test matches against Ireland on Openview, stating that the offer was too low. 

eMedia also complained that MultiChoice had only opened a tender for free-to-air broadcasters to bid for sub-licensing rights about a month before the tournament commenced.

eMedia views MultiChoice’s actions as undermining fair competition and ignoring a recent Competition Tribunal order designed to prevent such restrictive practices. 

Subsequently, eMedia obtained an interdict against MultiChoice, preventing the pay-TV operator from enacting provisions in sub-licensing contracts that blocked the SABC from broadcasting matches on channels it provides to Openview.

South Africa vs. MultiChoice Sports Dominance: MultiChoice’s Anti-Piracy Efforts

MultiChoice, on the other hand, has been actively combating piracy in the country. 

Last week, the company, alongside police detectives, arrested an alleged piracy kingpin in Gauteng, a small province in Johannesburg. 

The suspect, Jurgen Johannes Potgieter, was arrested for selling login credentials and internet streaming pirate devices, which enabled illegal access to premium content.

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MultiChoice has stated that these actions are in direct contravention of sections within the Cybercrime Act and that the suspect faces money laundering charges. 

The company has also founded Partners Against Piracy, an Africa-wide, multi-stakeholder initiative to work alongside local governments and prosecutors to actively address the issue of copyright infringement.

Implications for the Future of Sports Broadcasting

As the battle for sports broadcast rights intensifies in South Africa, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold between the government and MultiChoice. 

The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the future of sports broadcasting in the country and the accessibility of national sports events for all South Africans.

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