In a dramatic turn of events, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has agreed terms with satellite television channel MultiChoice to flight the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC) final between South Africa and England live on Saturday morning.
Majority of South Africans will ultimately get an opportunity to watch at least the final match of the 2019 Ellis Rugby World Cup on SABC.
Springboks (SA senior rugby team) will lock horns with England in the 2019 RWC final on the 2nd of November at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan.
The conquering national squad will eventually be crowned with the coveted Webb Ellis trophy. It is the prestigious honour epitomising the highest level of achievement in world rugby.
The broadcast deal was secured from pay television channel MultiChoice – the 2019 RWC rights holder, particularly in SA.
The Saturday eagerly anticipated final will kick off at 11 a.m. South African time.
In its media statement, the SABC stated that: “SABC 2 will also broadcast the match for the 3rd place playoff between New Zealand and Wales on Friday the 1st of November at 11h00.”
The bout between the two accomplished rugby-besotted giants mirrors the 2007 RWC edition staged in France which, ironically, the Springboks lifted after trashing England 15-6 in the final.
Should the Springboks go on to win the cup, it will be the 3rd RWC trophy having won it in 1995 at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, SA; thus, equalling New Zealand’s record: three trophies. For England, it will be the 2nd after the 2003 milestone since its [RWC] inception in 1987.
The agreement SABC reached with MultiChoice operating in the satellite domain through its subsidiary, DStv, was inter alia helped by public pressure. This one-of-a-kind sublicensing deal will make the rugby final match accessible to a broader SA audience for the elite sport exclusively shown on pay TV.
Even the SABC emphased its rational behind yesterday’s announcement that it acknowledges the magnitude of the event and the role sports play in fostering “social cohesion, nation building and promoting sports of national interest,” by striking a deal with DStv to air the RWC final.
That the Springboks are in the reckoning to grab the Webb Ellis cup is not only a plus, but a fascinating development.
SABC has been under financial strain for years resulting in sports events being underfunded and others curtailed, as published on Magrush.co.za Aug. 8, 2019: “TV Broadcast Rights”. Just like a terminally ill patient on life support, the public broadcaster currently gets by through government bailouts.
SABC Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mr Madoda Mxakwe said that they “remain committed to entering into commercially viable agreements and we support and wish the Springboks well as they pursue a place in history.”
The tournament has reached fever pitch and the contagion has overwhelmed the Union Buildings, the seat of government, and got the President of the country Cyril Ramaphosa all excited. He even assured Springboks captain Siya Kolisa after the penultimate 16-19 win against Wales on Sunday that he will attend the grand finale in Japan.