The South African government is to consider introducing new regulations that would prevent one broadcaster in the country from owning all premium sports programming, according to the Channel24 news website.
The television market in South Africa is currently dominated by pay-television broadcasters MultiChoice and SuperSport, which operate the pay-television platform DStv, and Naspers-owned pay-television broadcaster M-Net.
Between them, they own the majority of exclusive premium television sports programming rights.
The proposed new rules would mean that audiences would have to subscribe to a number of pay-television operators to access all of the premium content.
Yunus Carrium, new minister of communications, said: “We're working toward finalising a new policy on broadcasting and we'll have done so by the end of March 2014. The ministry is considering issuing a policy directive to the broadcasting regulator, Icasa, to open up competition in this sector and to give the public more choice on channels and programmes.
"Currently premium content is locked up with one broadcaster – especially in terms of our country's major sport – rugby and soccer needless to say, and cricket. We need to ensure that this becomes more accessible to the widest range of citizens possible.”