Groupe Canal+, the parent company of MultiChoice, recently announced the renewal of its multi-year domestic broadcast rights agreement with the South African Rugby Union (SARU).
As part of this agreement, SuperSport will continue as the exclusive broadcaster of all SARU domestic competitions, as well as Springbok women’s and junior age-group matches throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
This announcement marks a significant milestone as it is the first major local sports federation agreement since Canal+ assumed control of MultiChoice last September.
Canal+ Africa’s CEO, David Mignot, expressed his satisfaction with the renewed domestic rights agreement, emphasising that all domestic rugby matches will remain exclusively available on SuperSport.
In South Africa, the SuperSport channels are provided to MultiChoice (also known as LicenceCo) by Canal+ Africa, which delivers DStv services to its subscribers.
Mignot stated, “As pledged, we are intensifying our investment in local content, particularly the sports that resonate most with audiences across the continent.” He added that rugby has become deeply embedded in South African culture, as evidenced by nationwide celebrations following the Springboks’ victories at the Rugby World Cup.
SARU president Mark Alexander shared that after extensive discussions, they are pleased to finalise their first agreement with the MultiChoice Group and Canal+. “They have shown a profound understanding of rugby’s significance to the South African public, and we believe this is just the beginning of many more agreements to come,” commented Alexander.
Rendani Ramovha, Canal+ Director for Sports Content in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, reflected on the renewal as a proud achievement. “This reinforces our dedication to sports fans, and we thank our partners at SA Rugby for their cooperative approach,” Ramovha stated.
Rian Oberholzer, SA Rugby’s boss, highlighted the importance of broadcasting rights for the vitality and sustainability of sport in South Africa. “SuperSport has been a distinguished and dependable partner for South African Rugby, and we are pleased to continue this collaboration,” Oberholzer remarked. He noted the significant transformations in rugby and broadcasting since their initial agreement in the 1990s, underscoring the strength and endurance of their partnership.
