SABC dodges World Cup blackout bullet (again), this time for the Cricket World Cup

05.10.2023 - 17:17 news24.com

The SABC has once again narrowly avoided the possibility of a complete blackout of a national team involved in a World Cup, this time the Proteas in cricket's quadrennial showpiece in India.

This is after the national broadcaster came to yet another 11th-hour agreement with pay channel Multichoice for the rights to broadcast the tournament on Thursday. READ | Conway smashes 152* as New Zealand rout champions England in Cricket World Cup opener Just on Tuesday morning, Multichoice released a statement detailing the breakdown in negotiations with the SABC as well as voicing their disappointment at the national broadcaster walking away from talks from what they felt were "significantly reduced commercial terms, given its current circumstances".

But as of Saturday, the SABC will be able to air all nine of the Proteas' games at the World Cup, one semi-final and the final as per the latest agreement between the two parties.This is the second time in a month that the SABC has been granted a last-minute reprieve, with the two broadcasters having gone through the same gruelling, lowballing dance to land the rights to broadcast the ongoing Rugby World Cup in France.

Having pleaded poverty during the negotiations, the national broadcaster then got three sponsors, Hollywood Bets, the SAB and Pineapple Insurance, to help them televise the Springboks' defence of the Webb Ellis Cup.

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Netherlands will square off against Australia in Match 24 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on October 25 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, India. The match commences at 02:00 PM IST. The Dutch team struggled early on in the competition with massive defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand. However, they shocked South Africa with a 38-run win for their first victory of the tournament. The Netherlands head into the match against Australia following a five-wicket loss to Sri Lanka. However, despite the margin, the Dutch took the Islanders down to the wire.

Australia's Predicted XI vs Netherlands, Cricket World Cup 2023: Will Australia Continue With Winning Combination?

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India vs New Zealand ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: New Zealand Predicted XI - Tim Southee Dilemma For Tom Latham

India vs New Zealand matches in the ICC Cricket World Cups have always produced fascinating results and the contest at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Sunday, October 22, promises to be no different. India and New Zealand boast a perfect win record after four matches in the Cricket World Cup 2023 and will be keen to continue their unbeaten streak at all costs. While India will look to fill in gaps after Hardik Pandya was ruled out due to injury, the Black Caps received a major boost ahead of the India clash with their star pacer Tim Southee available for selection after regaining full fitness. (World Cup 2023 Points Table)

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Ahead of the clash between India and New Zealand, former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor lauded New Zealand and its stand-in skipper Tom Latham for their performances, but also warned that Men in Blue in their home conditions is a "different beast" and will remain favourites to win the tournament irrespective of the result of the match. India will lock horns against New Zealand at Dharamshala on Sunday. Both teams are undefeated in the tournament, having won four matches each and having eight points. New Zealand is at the top due to a better net run rate.