MUMBAI: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has formalised a three-year agreement with the South African Football Association (SAFA).

This will make SABC the exclusive free-to-air (FTA) broadcaster of three national soccer teams ? Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana and the Under 23 side.

The total value of the contract is in the region of R215 million over three years.

SABC will have all FTA broadcasting rights of Bafana Bafana home matches and any away friendly matches.

The rights will also include Banyana Banyana matches and any away friendly matches that Banyana Banyana may be involved in. The SABC will, however, be obliged to broadcast four of these matches a year, and

further matches will be broadcast should schedule and programming permit.

The rights to broadcast include all Under 23 home matches and any away friendly matches that they may be involved in. SABC will, however,

be obliged to broadcast three of these matches a year, and further matches will be broadcast should schedule and programming permit.

The deal also includes a new SAFA magazine programme to be launched in the new season, as well as new initiatives in regional radio through the SABC radio stations.

SABC Group CEO Lulama Mokhobo said, "We are excited about the new era we are entering with SAFA. Since the ending of the last contract, we were negotiating on a match to match basis, which posed challenges in our ability to plan adequately for transmission. This also caused, in some instances, a situation where we broadcasted delayed matches."

?Our viewers will now be able to enjoy more live matches, without the worry that they won?t be able to watch their national teams playing. This partnership empowers us to serve the needs of soccer loving fans".

SAFA CEO, Dr Robin Petersen said, "This has been a long journey which has now reached a good destination. We are delighted with the contract, which is a substantial improvement of the previous one, and will go a long way to help us to fund the development and other football needs of the Association."