SA regulator follows Prasar Bharti on mandatory sharing of national interest sports

The broadcast regulator in South Africa – Independent Communication Authority of South Africa – is emulating the Prasar Bharti model on mandatory sharing of the sporting events of national interest.

Major shake up in offing in the South African broadcast industry of South Africa will impact the pay TV SuperSport drastically. Like Prasar Bharti bill for mandatory sharing of the sports events of national interest, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has revealed details of its plan to make major sporting events available free-to-air in the country.

Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ISACA), which is the official regulator of the South African communications, broadcasting and postal services sectors, has detailed the effort in its Draft Sports Broadcasting Services Amendment Regulations 2018.

Media group Multichoice, which owns South Africa’s dominant pay-television operator (DStv) and sports broadcaster (SuperSport), currently holds the media rights for most of the  major sporting events in the country.

However, as part of its draft regulations, the My Broadband website has reported, ICASA has listed a number of major events that must be broadcast live by a free-to-air service. These include the summer Olympic Games; football’s Fifa World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations; the Rugby World Cup; Cricket World Cup and associated Twenty20 competitions; and the Commonwealth Games.

ICASA has stated that pay-television broadcasters can bid for the rights on a non-exclusive basis if a free-to-air partner cannot be found.

ICASA said the move is in line with the Electronic Communication Act which states that subscription broadcasting services may not acquire exclusive rights that prevent or hinder the free-to-air broadcasting of national sporting events.

The Draft Sports Broadcasting Services Amendment Regulations are open for comment until February 4.

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