PSL broadcast fears eased as CANAL+ reassures Kaizer Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns over long-term commitment

Supporters of South African football can breathe easier after CANAL+ moved to reassure the Premier Soccer League that local football remains one of its biggest priorities despite recent restructuring concerns.

The French broadcasting giant, which is in the process of strengthening its grip on MultiChoice, recently held high-level discussions with PSL chairman Irvin Khoza regarding the future of football coverage in the country.

The meeting comes at a crucial period for the domestic game, with uncertainty having grown over whether cost-cutting measures within the wider MultiChoice structure could eventually affect the PSL’s lucrative television agreement.

In recent months, several projects linked to SuperSport and Showmax were either reduced or discontinued as CANAL+ streamlined operations around what it considers core business investments. That sparked fears among clubs and supporters that the PSL could eventually face financial pressure if broadcasting priorities shifted.

However, the latest engagement between the broadcaster and league officials appears to have delivered a far more positive message.

CANAL+ executives reportedly emphasized that South African football remains central to the company’s long-term sports strategy across the African continent. The PSL continues to be viewed as one of the broadcaster’s most valuable products, especially due to the massive popularity of clubs such as Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

CANAL+ Director for Sports Content in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, Rendani Ramovha, stressed that the relationship with the PSL remains extremely important to the group’s future plans.

According to Ramovha, the broadcaster has consistently maintained that investment in local content remains a major focus, with domestic football sitting at the very top of viewer demand on both DStv and SuperSport platforms.

The reassurance will come as welcome news to PSL clubs, many of whom depend heavily on television revenue and monthly grant distributions to remain financially stable.

Khoza also used the occasion to highlight the wider importance of the PSL beyond football itself, describing the league as part of South Africa’s cultural identity.

The veteran football administrator explained that the PSL has evolved into more than simply a sporting competition, saying it now serves as a shared national platform that connects communities across different generations, regions and backgrounds.

He further noted that the partnership between the PSL and CANAL+ plays a major role in ensuring that local football remains widely accessible while continuing to unite millions of supporters around the country.