South Africa’s broadcasting regulator ICASA has been told to look at how TV covers sports in the country, and in particular how sporting events are broadcast.

Yunnis Carrim, South Africa’s new Minister of Communications, speaking on a local TV news channel, said his ministry was working towards a new policy on broadcasting  and that the examination would be completed by March 2014.

“Currently premium content is locked up with one broadcaster – especially in terms of our country’s major sports – rugby and football needless to say, and cricket. We need to ensure that this becomes more accessible to the widest range of citizens possible.”

Any material alteration in the current position – which see the DStv/Multichoice broadcaster sitting with all the sports rights – would be a major blow to DStv. However, there are few – if any – rival broadcasters with anything like deep enough pockets to rival DStv in terms of paying for TV rights.

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