WHILE Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie wants to intervene following the Springbok rugby black-out on SABC, he might as well take on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for allowing SuperSport to secure the bulk of TV coverage of its matches behind a paywall (subscription and decoders).

McKenzie recently said he felt “anger, disappointment and sadness” that most South Africans could not watch the Springboks in Test matches on SABC, the public broadcaster.

After the announcement of the PSL’s new sponsorship a few days ago, McKenzie will feel even greater anger, because football fans far outnumber rugby fans in the country. They rely on pay TV operator MultiChoice to watch all the PSL matches. This includes the Betway Premiership, MTN8 and Nedbank Cup.

McKenzie made his feelings clear when he said: “It is wrong. The national team (the Springboks) doesn’t belong to MultiChoice, SABC or e-TV. None of them should act like the national team belongs to them.”

The way the PSL has agreed to a deal with MultiChoice, there is a strong case to say the PSL has given MultiChoice exclusivity. It is much the same way McKenzie implies that the national team (the Springboks) doesn’t belong to MultiChoice.

In letting off steam, McKenzie added he would leverage previously unused legislation to settle the feud and enable all South Africans to watch their national teams.

Since then, he has not explained what that unused legislation is, but he added: “There exists legislation which has never been used, that prevents them from engaging in the current action they are engaging in.

“I intend to use that legislation. I will make sure South Africans can all watch (the Springboks).

“I’m not going to be an enabler of the majority of our people not being able to watch the national rugby team or soccer team.”

Over the years, there has been conflict between the two broadcasters (SABC and MultiChoice) every time there is a major sports event.

Two years ago, the SABC approached the Competition Commission after a confrontation with SuperSport. After the SABC stated their case, the Commission did not make a call. The SABC has never pursued the matter any further either.

Experts knowledgeable about broadcasting matters say that MultiChoice usually agrees to share the broadcasting rights. However, they insist on conditions that make it virtually impossible for broadcasters like the SABC and e-TV to accept. Hence, the public is forced to subscribe to the pay channel to enjoy Test match coverage.

This controversy is hard on MultiChoice, who have done a terrific job of providing first-class TV viewing.

PSL chairman Irvin Khoza recently said that an international visitor was amazed at the quality of the SuperSport broadcasts.

The Competition Commission will likely say that South Africans do have the right and they should have the right to access the national teams in all major events. It will say it will be good for nation-building, and should not be stuck behind a paywall that’s inaccessible to the majority of the population.