SARU upset as SABC can Boks
The South African Rugby Union said on Wednesday they were "disappointed" that Springbok Test matches would not be available on free-to-air television.
This follows the South African Broadcast Corporation's decision not broadcast delayed matches "as live".
The SABC announced on Tuesday that its policy henceforth would be to broadcast only sporting events to which it had the live rights.
In a joint statement with rights holder SuperSport, the SABC confirmed it would not show Bok matches on television.
"The SABC has decided, as a principle, that for the events that it has rights to [such as in respect of Bafana Bafana] it will broadcast on a live basis," SABC acting Chief Operations Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said.
"In the case of rugby, SABC does not hold rights and is therefore not able to broadcast these matches on a live basis."
Springbok matches will continue to be broadcast on 12 SABC radio stations.
SuperSport International Chief Executive Happy Ntshingila said the rights holder had offered to sub-licence the television rights for Springbok games to the SABC.
Ntshingila was nonetheless "pleased that the SABC had acquired radio rights to the Test matches".
SARU made their disappointment with the SABC decision very clear.
"We respect the SABC's decision, but it is disappointing from SARU's perspective and I'm sure from the perspective of supporters," said Jurie Roux, CEO of SARU.
Roux added that he hoped that Springbok matches would return to free-to-air television at some point in the future.
SuperSport owns the rights to broadcast all Springbok rugby matches, but may also sell the rights to the SABC, on condition that the corporation does not do live broadcasts of matches.
SuperSport had a five-year contract with the SABC, which expired in 2010, and has not been renewed, according to SuperSport spokesman Clinton van der Berg.
Since 2010, SuperSport has sold the broadcasting rights to the SABC per match.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said in earlier media dispatches that the SABC had been dissatisfied with "certain clauses" pertaining to advertising and time constraints.
