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Cape Town - The SABC says it won't broadcast the South African national cricket team's tour to New Zealand because the broadcasting rights are too expensive.
South African viewers will only be able to watch the action in the upcoming five ODI's and three Tests on SuperSport on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said in a statement that the SABC had failed to reach a contractual agreement for broadcasting rights of the Proteas' matches.
"Sport rights have become costly with
many rights holders demanding a 100% increase on rights fees which the public
service broadcaster cannot afford," says Kaizer Kganyago.
The SABC has a duty to broadcast national teams and national sport of interest.
The SABC didn't say when it started negotiations - prices notoriously increase like just like flight tickets as dates approach - and also didn't specify whether specifically the cricket broadcasting rights also increased 100% since the SABC last broadcast an overseas Proteas tour.
The SABC says South Africans depending on the public broadcaster can follow news updates of the Proteas in New Zealand on Radio 2000 with hourly updates on match days from today until March 29.
Kganyago said the SABC will continue to "engage and negotiate for better deal and rights to broadcast other tournaments in the near future for the benefit of the South African public".
The Proteas opened their tour of New Zealand with a comfortable 78-run victory in the lone T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.
The ODI series starts on Sunday in Hamilton at 03:00 (SA time).
