Springbok fans who can’t afford to pay the Multichoice fees to get Supersport can celebrate after the SABC and Multichoice concluded an agreement in principle to broadcast all the Springbok games for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on Friday.
A total of 16 games will be broadcasted on the SABC channels.
This agreement will unfortunately exclude OVHD (eMedia) platform. The SABC says this is due to the restrictive conditions that MultiChoice is placing on the sub-licensing agreement for the Free-to-Air rights for the RWC 2023.
This condition cuts off approximately 3.2million South African households.
The SABC says it regrets this irrational decision by MultiChoice, especially in light of Minister Zizi Kodwa’s emphasis that “rugby plays a critical role in nation building and social cohesion”.
Minister Kodwa said, “I welcome this groundbreaking agreement which will allow all South Africans to watch the world champions, the Springboks, as they defend their Rugby World Cup title.”
“Rugby has the potential to unite our people, to foster social cohesion and national unity. We have seen this in the times the Springboks have won the Rugby World Cup,” says Minister Kodwa.
The SABC has expressed the hope that MultiChoice will remove this restrictive condition to enable all South Africans to get behind the Boks.
The Springboks’ Rugby World Cup campaign kicks off on Sunday afternoon as they face Scotland.
Messages of support has been streaming in for the Boks, who will look to defend their World Cup title.
#BokFriday | Go Bokke!
The staff at the South African Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium show their support for the @Springboks ahead of the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
South Africa will play their first game on Sunday, 10 September, against Scotland.#StongerTogether pic.twitter.com/GoPC279xte
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) September 8, 2023
All the best to our Springboks ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France!
pic.twitter.com/aVKjjQEbhV
— Premier Alan Winde
Today the world
is in union as we celebrate the start of the #RWC2023. We are behind the @Springboks in their quest to defend their crown and bring the trophy home – where it belongs!
#StrongerTogether #springboks #Celebrate #worldinunion pic.twitter.com/uPY9LifNmq
— Ndlovu Youth Choir (@ChoirAfrica) September 8, 2023
#BokFriday | Message of support for the @Springboks from South Africa’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E Smuts Ngonyama and the Tokyo mission team. The Boks were victorious during the #RWC2019 which took place in Japan, and brought the Webb Ellis Trophy home.#StongerTogether#RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/a7IvZKXfcA
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) September 8, 2023
Wishing @SiyaKolisi and the rest of the @Springboks
Go get 'em Bokke!
#NetballFamily | #StrongerTogether | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/wXZ8x0gE7F
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) September 8, 2023
Cape Town is behind the @Springboks !
Here’s our message to the team
— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) September 6, 2023
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