The association’s current five-year deal with SABC, worth a total of R150 million, expires at the end of March. The deal also requires the association to cover the production costs of all matches at between R500,000 and R700,000 per match.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said that negotiations were cordial and a deal would be found in time. “Our target is March 31 and we hope everything will have been finalised. There is no animosity between us and [the association] as reported in the media and we are confident that we will renew our contract,” he said.
SABC may be able to offset some of the cost of the deal by selling on pay-television rights to SuperSport, the broadcaster which shows the domestic football league.