South African public-service broadcaster SABC has hit out at the growing cost of sports rights after failing to agree a deal for the national cricket team’s tour of New Zealand.
South Africa is currently engaged in a tour which opened on Friday with a 78-run victory in the sole Twenty20 game. The tourists also secured a four-wicket win in the first of five one-day internationals yesterday (Sunday), with the tour of New Zealand set to conclude with three Test matches.
SABC’s failure to secure rights means the tour will only be available in South Africa via SuperSport, the pay-television broadcaster that operates in sub-Saharan Africa.
SABC said in a statement: “Sport rights have become costly with many rights holders demanding a 100 per cent increase on rights fees which the public service broadcaster cannot afford.”
SABC added that it will continue to “engage and negotiate for better deals and rights to broadcast other tournaments in the near future for the benefit of the South African public”.
The tour continues with the second ODI in Christchurch on Wednesday.