SABC scoops 2010 and 2014 broadcast rights
BERLIN, GERMANY: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has been awarded official FIFA World Cup broadcaster status for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup tournaments by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA). The deal, which includes free-to-air and pay-TV rights for all FIFA events during both periods, was signed and announced on Friday, 7 July 2006.
The two tournaments will be respectively held in South Africa and a South American country still to be named.
The SABC and FIFA revealed that they have been locked in intense negotiations over the past six months, which took place in Zurich and Johannesburg.
Advocate Dali Mpofu, group chief executive officer and leader of the SABC's negotiations team, says other local broadcasters would have relished the idea of obtaining the primary rights from FIFA.
"I must praise all my team, which also included our chief operating officer, Solly Mokoetle, and group executive content enterprises, Mvuzo Mbebe. I must also thank the FIFA team for tough but very cordial negotiations, especially for agreeing to our idea of a package deal for both 2010 and 2014," says Mpofu.
"The partnership bodes well for us and is in the best interest of both organisations (SABC and FIFA) and our country. It also supports the SABC's motto of total citizenship empowerment.
"In line with our policy of co-operative competition with other broadcasters, we would like to assure them that our doors will remain open to consider all reasonable bids for sub-licensing the rights. We have done the same with the 2006 FIFA World Cup rights. We hope to extend this spirit of reciprocal co-operation with our competitors to ensure that everyone benefits from this partnership," adds Mpofu.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter agrees: "We have no doubt that the SABC will make FIFA proud once again, proving to be the most reliable partner in respect of the beautiful game. As we rap up a successful tournament in Germany, all eyes will now shift to South Africa. Our dream of an African World Cup is now a reality. FIFA, like the SABC, is totally committed to empowering the people of South Africa and the continent in staging what promises to a spectacular World Cup."
Expressing the Board's congratulations to the SABC management team, Sonwabo Eddie Funde, SABC board chairman, says: "The SABC is not only excited to achieve this double honour, but is also committed to playing its part in ensuring that the radio and TV signals for the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup Tournaments reach the largest possible number of our people which will contribute to our goals of nation-building and total citizenship empowerment.
We thank FIFA for placing its trust in the SABC's proven ability to deliver."
