TV blackout threat looms over Comrades Marathon
Fears of no broadcast rise after Athletics SA and the SABC fail to reach an agreement‚ leading to the Two Oceans Marathon not being televised
Sport minister Tokozile Xasa has stepped into the contractual dispute between Athletics SA and the SABC in an attempt to prevent a broadcast blackout of the Comrades Marathon in June. Fears of a blackout escalated after discussions between Athletics SA and the SABC failed to produce a breakthrough‚ leading to the Two Oceans Marathon not being televised at the weekend. Consequently Xasa issued a warning to the two parties to seek common ground and avoid denying South Africans the opportunity to watch major events on television. “We are convening a meeting with Athletics SA and we will be talking about everything because these things also threaten their championships‚” she said. “This is not good for them [Athletics SA] and the SABC and therefore our intervention is because this situation impacts on the people of SA. That is where we enter to say where can we help to find common ground. “The Two Oceans is listed among the events to be broadcast in terms of the SABC‚ so there was noth...
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