Groundbreaking decision in sports-licensing rights case

On 18 January 2024, the Competition Tribunal heard an urgent interim relief application brought by eMedia Investments (Pty) Ltd (“eMedia”) to interdict MultiChoice SA Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Supersport International (Pty) Ltd (“MultiChoice”) from implementing and enforcing a restriction in sub-licensing agreements entered into between Multichoice and the SABC relating to the broadcasting of sporting events such as the World Cup rugby and World Cup cricket, in terms of which the SABC was prohibited from transmitting or making available the sub-licensed broadcasts on television broadcasting platforms owned or operated by eMedia.   

eMedia also sought an interim interdict preventing MultiChoice from including similar restrictions in future sub-licensing agreements concluded between the parties relating to the broadcasting of future sporting events.   

On 15 April 2024, the Tribunal granted the interim interdict preventing MultiChoice/SuperSport from enforcing these types of restrictions in future sublicensing agreements.  This is a precedent-setting decision, not only in South Africa but globally.

Nortons successfully represented eMedia in this groundbreaking decision. 

For more information, please see the links below:

• eMedia granted interim relief in MultiChoice case over sports rights (businesslive.co.za)

• MultiChoice dealt blow in sports broadcasting tussle with eMedia | Business (news24.com) 

• Bloody nose for MultiChoice in sports fight with eMedia - TechCentral

• eMedia granted interim relief in fight against Multchoice over sports broadcast rights (primediaplus.com)