Renewal of SARU and CANAL+ Agreements
SA Rugby and the CANAL+ Group, the parent organization of MultiChoice Group, have successfully secured a renewal of their longstanding domestic broadcasting rights agreement.
The updated agreement guarantees that SuperSport, the premier sports broadcaster in Africa, will retain its status as the exclusive official rights holder for all SA Rugby domestic competitions, which include Springbok Women’s and junior matches, throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
This marks the first agreement of its nature between a major local sports federation and the CANAL+ Group since the onset of their partnership with MultiChoice last September, underscoring CANAL+’s commitment to fostering local sports. SuperSport has proudly maintained a partnership with SA Rugby for over thirty years.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander stated: “We are thrilled to have finalized our inaugural agreement with MultiChoice Group and CANAL+ Group following extensive negotiations. They have shown a mutual understanding of rugby’s significance to the South African community, and we view this as the beginning of many more similar partnerships.”
David Mignot, CEO of CANAL+ Africa, expressed his excitement over the renewal of the domestic rights agreement, confirming that all local rugby matches will be available exclusively on SuperSport. In South Africa, CANAL+ Africa provides SuperSport channels to MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd, which delivers the DStv service to its subscribers.
“In line with our commitment, we are enhancing our investment in local content, especially in sports that resonate with audiences across the continent. Rugby has entrenched itself in South African culture, as witnessed by the collective joy every time the Springboks secure victory in the Rugby World Cup,” Mignot commented.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer noted: “Broadcasting rights play a crucial role in the health and viability of sports in South Africa, and rugby is no different. SuperSport has been a steadfast and trusted ally of South African rugby, and we look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership.”
“The rugby and broadcasting landscape has dramatically evolved since our initial agreement in the 1990s, but the enduring nature of our partnership mirrors our common goals.”
Rendani Ramovha, CANAL+ Director for Sports Content in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, said: “Renewing the domestic broadcast agreement not only strengthens our established partnership with SA Rugby but also enhances the experience for DStv viewers and subscribers who rely on us for high-quality sports content.”
“Continuing to fulfill that expectation is a notable accomplishment for us, reaffirming our commitment to sports fans. We value the collaborative spirit of our partners at SA Rugby.”
