A Johannesburg judge has warned that fans may not get to watch the 2010 soccer Word Cup on TV if the SABC’s broadcasting deal is not wrapped up.
Judge Frans Malan said the broadcaster might have to re-tender for the multimillion-rand rights because a company that lost a tender has taken the public broadcaster to court.
Black-owned Digital Horizon contends that a R383-million deal between the SABC and Sony SA for the latter to provide services relating to the broadcasting of the soccer showcase is flawed and tainted with irregularities.
The company contends that SonySA is 100 percent foreign owned and not BEE-compliant.
It wants the Johannesburg High Court to review the deal and order the SABC board to reverse its decision and invite new tenders.
But Judge Malan said this would take time.
“I understand the urgency of the matter, but I need time to look into it … the court battle could drag [on] for months.”
A lawyer for Digital Horizon, Richard Solomon, said the SABC board had awarded the tender despite warnings that Sony SA’s bid had serious shortcomings.
“Sony SA’s design did not display any technological advances. The SABC cannot afford this. The SABC is currently experiencing performance-related problems with Sony outside-broadcast vans,” he said .
Peter van Blerk, representing the SABC, asked that the court dismiss Digital Horizon’s application on the grounds that it did not provide evidence that suggested that it had suffered any prejudice.
