PSL in European broadcast talks
Brad Morgan
19 December 2008
If commercial success is a measure of the success of a football league, South Africa's PSL has passed the test with flying colours.
Already the seventh most lucrative league in the world, the PSL is set to receive another big boost, says Chairman Ivan Khoza, with European broadcast giants Eurosport having entered into discussions to broadcast 200 PSL matches.
Addressing the media in an end-of-year press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, Khoza said: "I am today proud to say that Eurosport have expressed an interest in purchasing the rights to broadcast about 200 PSL matches. This only shows the confidence which the world of football has in our product.
"These are the results of combined efforts from the league, the clubs, the fans, the media, and I wish to particularly thank the media for the constructive image that they have portrayed to the world of our football."
Television drawcard
Underlining the success of football on television, Khoza said the MTN 8 final, won by Kaizer Chiefs over Mamelodi Sundowns on penalties, was second only to the funeral of former ANC stalwart Chris Hani in terms of viewership in the history of South African television.
Although the PSL is healthy in trying financial times, the worldwide economic slump has had an effect on South African football; Khoza said the PSL hopes to attract a sponsor for the National First Division (NFD) by the end of the season, but had had no success so far.
PSL CEO Kjetil Siem admitted to being disappointed about the lack of a sponsor for the NFD, but added that he was optimistic that one could yet be found.
'Still a lot of work to do'
"We achieved a lot during 2008, but there is still a lot of work to do," Siem said.
"I am pleased to say that we have made a lot of progress on many fronts. The introduction of the MTN 8 was hasty but went well," he added.
Alluding to areas that need work, Khoza said the PSL and the South African Football Association were in talks on forming a professional refereeing panel for the PSL.
He also said coaches need to be developed. He explained: "We need a coach in the mould of Carlos Alberto Parreira for our development, but the money is not there as there is little media coverage of development."
Youth development crucial
Khoza identified the development of the game at youth level as crucial, and said much more work needed to be done there.
Khoza, who is also the owner of PSL club Orlando Pirates, said that a local replacement has been lined up to take over from Siem when the Norwegian's contract expired after the Fifa World Cup in September 2010.
Sponsorships
South African football has experienced a sponsorship boom ahead of the country's hosting of the World Cup.
The Nedbank Cup, a knockout competition which was launched in February this year, boasts a total prize purse of R19.3-million. Nedbank's overall deal is much bigger, however, at R400-million over five years.
In August 2007, South African Breweries (SAB) and Absa announced a joint sponsorship of more than R500-million over the next five years for South African football, with SAB backing Bafana Bafana and Absa sponsoring the PSL's Premier Division.
On top of the money flowing into the various competitions and teams, the PSL signed a landmark deal with broadcast giant SuperSport International in June 2007, worth R1.6-billion.
With so much money flowing into the sport, the time is now for SA football to take advantage of the spotlight that the Fifa World Cup is shining on the country. A deal that sees the PSL broadcast in Europe would be a big step forward.
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