CWC 2203 re-iterates the position with SABC coverage

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 today reiterated that it had played no part in the allocation of matches to local television channels.

CWC 2003 Executive Director Dr Ali Bacher was involved in facilitating the process whereby both SABC and Supersport would have the rights to televise ICC Cricket World Cup matches in South Africa and Africa.

The SABC on-sold rights to the pay channel Supersport in a deal that permitted Supersport to televise live all 54 scheduled matches and SABC 27 of them.

Neither the International Cricket Council nor the CWC 2003 organising committee played any role in this 54-27 division of matches which was entirely a business arrangement between SABC and Supersport.

Fully aware of the SABC's allocation of 27 matches, Dr Bacher had consistently urged both SABC and Supersport to find a way for the national broadcaster to screen more games.

On one occasion - when SABC3's planned coverage of the Zimbabwe-England match in Harare fell away after the late cancellation of the fixture - Dr Bacher intervened personally to gain permission from Supersport for the pay channel's coverage of the West Indies-New Zealand game on the same day to be carried on SABC3.

Had this not been arranged at the 11th hour, SABC3's live cricket slot that day would have been left void.

The ICC and CWC 2003 were also not party to a decision that SABC3 screen live only five of the nine Super Six matches.

Both SABC3 and Supersport will broadcast the ICC CWC 2003 Semifinals and Final in the week ahead.

Rodney Hartman
Communications Director
ICC Cricket World Cup South Africa 2003
Tel: +27 11 446 3604
Fax: +27 11 446 3622
Mobile: +27 83 389 0904