- eMedia, a South African broadcaster, has filed with the competition appeal court against SABC and MultiChoice’s SuperSport, alleging the entities breached a ruling by the Competition Tribunal and entered into a “contemptuous” sports sublicensing agreement. However, MultiChoice denied the allegations, TechCentral reported.
- Per the report, over the weekend, SABC and MultiChoice announced that last Saturday’s T20 Cricket World Cup final, and two other upcoming rugby test matches would be broadcast on SABC platforms.
- The agreement restricts the SABC from showing the matches on its channels that are carried on eMedia’s platforms (notably Openview). The SABC is also restricted from streaming the matches on SABC+.
But an April 2024 ruling by the Competition Tribunal nullified such agreements, granting eMedia interim relief pending the final determination of its complaint to the commission, or for a period of six months.
The tribunal order stated that MultiChoice, including its subsidiary SuperSport, and the SABC are not allowed to make deals that stop SABC from broadcasting sports events on eMedia's platforms through Openview.
There are speculations that if MultiChoice airs the sports content excluding eMedia platforms, it might increase its subscribers, despite a 9% decline in total active subscribers for the fiscal year ending March 2024 (FY24).
In October 2023, eMedia filed complaints with the Competition Commission and the Competition Tribunal against MultiChoice for refusing to allow rugby and cricket games sublicensed to the SABC to be broadcast on Openview.
eMedia accused MultiChoice of using its market position to gain exclusive rights, engaging in anticompetitive behaviour in sublicensing agreements. The broadcaster added that MultiChoice used its market power to compel the SABC to accept.
On the other hand, MultiChoice argued that the appeal court had no jurisdiction in the matter, saying eMedia was trying to get a "free ride" on the SABC's broadcast rights while denying any wrongdoing under competition law.
eMedia is asking the court to grant it relief by cancelling the contract between SABC and MultiChoice, which would stop SABC from showing the upcoming rugby test matches or ask SABC and MultiChoice to follow the previous court order and allow the rugby matches to be shown on eMedia's platform as well.
In other news, a tribunal fined MultiChoice Nigeria, a MultiChoice subsidiary, ₦150 million for going against the jurisdiction of a court ruling that stopped it from increasing the prices of its DStv and GOtv packages. However, MultiChoice Nigeria said it would appeal the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal's ruling adding that the Tribunal “breached their right to fair hearing.”
All this comes amidst progressive talks and moves to acquire MultiChoice Group by the French media company, Canal+.
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