The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has confirmed it will not broadcast the opening fixtures of the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season on Saturday, 1 August, as negotiations over a sub-licensing agreement with CANAL+ are still ongoing.
The public broadcaster said discussions are progressing positively but have not yet been finalised. If an agreement is reached, the SABC expects to begin broadcasting Betway Premiership matches from 15 August.
In a boost for football fans, the SABC announced that it has successfully concluded an agreement with CANAL+ to broadcast the 2026 MTN8 tournament, ensuring free-to-air coverage of the competition.
SABC Group CEO Nomsa Chabeli welcomed the agreement, saying it will allow millions of South Africans to continue enjoying one of the country’s premier domestic football tournaments while expressing optimism that the Betway Premiership negotiations will be concluded soon.
CANAL+ Africa and MultiChoice Group CEO David Mignot also confirmed that discussions on the broader 2026/27 free-to-air sub-licensing agreement remain constructive and expressed hope that a deal will be finalised soon.
The SABC thanked football supporters for their patience and apologised for the delay, while reaffirming its commitment to bringing South African football to audiences across the country.
