The South African FA "has sold the broadcasting rights to national team matches" -- presently held by national broadcaster South African Broadcasting Corp. -- to newly licensed pay-TV operator Siyaya TV, according to the APA. The deal, worth about $94M, "gives Siyaya rights to show all matches of senior and junior national teams that include the Bafana Bafana men’s side and the women’s Banyana Banyana team." The 100% South African-owned Siyaya TV "goes live next June while its rights deal made public Sunday becomes effective a month before then on May 1" (APA, 8/4). BIZ COMMUNITY's Mninawa Ntloko wrote a source close to the negotiations said that "Siyaya would probably allow SABC or e.tv to show the matches, but only after the final whistle." The radio rights will, for the first time, "be subject to bidding from regional stations." SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble said that "the decision was taken because the Bafana property rights had been under-valued." Mumble said that "football was making only a tenth of what cricket and rugby received from broadcasters" (BIZ COMMUNITY, 8/4).
