PSL backs CANAL+ in fight against South African football piracy

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has pledged its support to CANAL+ as the broadcaster steps up its campaign against piracy, which the league says is causing billions in lost revenue across South African football and the wider sports industry.

The commitment was announced in a lengthy PSL statement released on Friday, following an annual Interface meeting involving the league, CANAL+, MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd and SuperSport.

The meeting focused on broadcast strategy and plans for the upcoming 30th PSL season, as well as the league’s longer-term direction. Piracy was identified as one of the central issues discussed, with the PSL warning that illegal access to sports content threatens broadcasters, rights holders, commercial partners, clubs, players and supporters.

“The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has pledged its support for CANAL+’s fight against piracy, the biggest threat to the sustainability of the sports ecosystem and in particular, to football in South Africa,” the statement said.

The league said illegal streaming platforms, stream-ripping services, website links and unlicensed applications had expanded significantly in recent years. According to the PSL, their growth has resulted in billions of rands in lost revenue for sports broadcast rights holders, broadcasters and commercial partners.

“Illegal streaming platforms, stream-ripping services, website links and unlicensed apps have proliferated over the last few years, leading to billions in lost revenue for sports broadcast rights holders, broadcasters and commercial partners.

“The PSL met with CANAL+, MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd and SuperSport in an annual Interface meeting to discuss the broadcast strategy and plans for the upcoming milestone 30th PSL season and beyond.

“Among the key topics was the scourge of piracy, which threatens the entire sports, entertainment and broadcast media ecosystem. Pirated content threatens the fabric of professional sports across the world, with players, clubs and fans impacted by the rampant use of illegal means of viewing content.”

PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza called on supporters, partners and other stakeholders to help CANAL+ tackle unauthorised viewing of football content.

“We need to make sure that people support the CANAL+ project, to ensure that it’s a viable proposition, especially on the issues of piracy. There is illegal viewing of DStv content, and we cannot allow that to happen,” Dr Khoza said.

He also praised CANAL+’s financial commitment and said the company had shown its confidence in the PSL product by extending its contract to 2034 during its first meeting with the league.

“The sponsor is genuine. To invest this kind of money at the first go, it means their heart is at the right place, so we are going to work with them with the same attitude and the same demeanour that we did with SuperSport.

“A miracle happened with our new partners, CANAL+. The first meeting we had in the first meeting with CANAL+, they extended the contract to 2034, which shows that they appreciate the PSL product. Our job is to make sure that we give them the support and to maintain the viewership that we have developed over the years. Kudos to CANAL+, they have started on the right footing.”

Dr Khoza said the PSL’s responsibility was to support CANAL+ while protecting and maintaining the audience built by the league over many years.

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