The Ruthless Battle for Sports Dominance
Behind the scenes of the brewing storm in the world of broadcasting, two giants are slugging it out for control – SuperSport and eMedia.
The gloves are off as they engage in a fierce battle for the heart of South African sports fans. The crux of the issue lies in SuperSport’s exclusive broadcasting rights and eMedia’s attempts to muscle its way in.
Blood in the Water
In what can only be described as a case of corporate bloodlust, SuperSport has accused eMedia of attempting to "steal" its broadcasting rights. The latter wants to beam the Springbok test matches between South Africa and Ireland to the masses, but without paying the market rate.
An Offer Rejected
It seems that eMedia’s proposal of "paying peanuts" was politely declined by SuperSport. The two parties are now locked in a very public and very dirty fight.
The stakes are high, with eMedia’s CEO warning that if SuperSport’s proposal is accepted, then no SABC viewers at all would be able to watch the games. Talk about a scorched-earth policy!
The SuperSport Salvo
CEO Rendani Ramovha shot back at eMedia’s brazen tactics, stating that MultiChoice had granted the licensing rights to the SABC for territorial broadcasting purposes only. This way, the value of the head licensing rights remained intact.
Free to Air?
The key question is, can eMedia really offer the same level of broadcasting quality and reach at no cost to itself? In a move that smacks of desperation, eMedia is now pinning its hopes on the competition appeal court to rule in its favor.
One thing is certain – this battle won’t be over anytime soon. The war over broadcasting rights is just heating up, and fans are the ones holding the power.
