Barring any last minutes changes, South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) could make it free to watch a number of sporting events, if a review of the country’s sports broadcasting regulations sails through. 

“I understand the reason behind the regulation. You want the whole of South Africa to watch sport on the SABC — which is a good thing,” DA MP Phumzile van Damme was quoted as saying. 

“But this won’t happen. It is just populist, and if this is the idea that you are taking out to the public then it’s a lie. There’s no way this is going to happen.”

Here Is What You Need To Know

According to the proposed regulation the list sporting events targeted include those that:

• Have been identified as national sporting events as well as minority and developmental sports;
• Cannot be acquired exclusively for broadcasting by subscription television licensees;
• Must be broadcast live, delayed live, or delayed by free-to-air television broadcasting licensees.

Icasa said that a number of criteria are used to determine whether a national sporting events are of public interest.

This includes whether the event includes a national team or a national representative, whether the game being played is a semi-final or final of a knockout competition and whether it is the opening game of a confederation event.

The proposed list of events which Icasa and the Department of Communications is looking to include is as follows:

• Summer Olympic Games;
• Paralympics;
• FIFA World Cup;
• African Cup of Nations;
• Rugby World Cup;
• ICC Cricket World Cup;
• ICC T20 Cricket World Championships;
• International Boxing Federations;
• Netball World Cup;
• Commonwealth Games;
• IAAF World Athletic Championships;
• Super 15 Rugby;
• All Africa Games;
• Cosafa Cup
• CAF Champions League
• CAF Confederations Cup
• MTN 8
• Telkom Knockout;
• Nedbank Cup;
• Currie Cup;
• TAFISA World Sport for All Games.

Some of these events are already available for broadcast through free-to-air broadcasters such as the SABC. In addition, pay broadcasters will not lose out on the right to broadcast these events — only possible exclusivity.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer