MUMBAI: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the South African Football Association (SAFA) have reached an agreement wherein the public service broadcaster will carry all the games for the national soccer teams for three years.

The agreement will be presented to the boards of the SABC and SAFA respectively to get their approval. The contract is expected to be signed during the second week of May.

SABC?s acting COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng said, "For the SABC this is a historic milestone for both parties, as previously we negotiated on a game to game basis. Once the contract has been signed, South Africans can be rest assured that for the next three years, they will be able to watch the national soccer teams whenever they play home games.? The pact will strengthen the relationship between the SABC and SAFA as it was perceived to be on shaky ground. Said Motsoeneng, ?The agreement has been structured in a way that all parties, but especially the South African public, wins.?

?This deal is a significant advancement for SAFA?s Commercial programme and will enable us to ensure that we achieve the international success which is our immediate, medium and long term goal,? said Dr SAFA Commercial Committee chair Dr Danny Jordaan.

In relation to away games involving Bafana Bafana, the two parties have agreed to work together, in negotiations with Sport Five.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has acquired Titanic ? the lavish new costume drama from the pen of Oscar-winner and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes ? to air exclusively on BBC Entertainment in South Africa, the same day as the UK version concludes.

Created to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the HMS Titanic, the 4 x 60? drama will transmit as double-bills on BBC Entertainment on 15 and 22 April.

The drama features a host of British acting talent including Linus Roache, Geraldine Somerville, Celia Imrie, Toby Jones, Perdita Weeks and James Wilby.

Filmed in Hungary, the mini-series will re-tell the story of the doomed voyage, weaving action, mystery and romantic plots and featuring fictional and historical characters, before coming together in an explosive and unforgettable finale.

Following the different characters travelling on the ill-fated ship - from steerage passengers to upper class guests - each point of view will culminate in a cliff hanger as the ship begins to founder, building to an explosive conclusion which draws together each of the stories. Viewers will be taken on a heart wrenching journey through the Titanic?s last hours, as the drama reveals which of the characters they have come to know so well will survive?and who does not.

BBC Worldwide Channels VP programming for Europe, Middle East and Africa Jon Farrar said, ?We?re delighted to be showing this prestigious drama exclusively on BBC Entertainment so soon after the hugely successful debut of Downton Abbey. As the first channel to bring the hotly-anticipated Downton Abbey to South Africa, it?s a thrill to be the only channel to show Julian Fellowes? latest project
too.?

MUMBAI: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has agreed a new six-year deal with BBC Sport for the radio rights to broadcast ball-by-ball commentary on international cricket from 2014 to 2019.

The agreement, which will encompass two home Ashes series in 2015 and 2019, and tours by India in 2014 and South Africa in 2017, provides BBC radio with live and exclusive coverage of all England?s home Test, One-Day International and T20 series.

The BBC had previously agreed a four-year deal with ECB to broadcast live ball-by-ball coverage of international cricket which is due to expire at the end of the 2013 season.

ECB CEO David Collier said, ?The next six years are set to be exciting ones for the sport and Test Match Special?s coverage together with the regular summaries and updates provided by BBC Radio 5 live will play a significant role in
promoting cricket from the playground to the Test arena.?

BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said, ?We?re delighted to be taking cricket on the radio forward for a further six years. Test Match Special, now in its 55th year, is one of the most treasured programmes on the BBC with its unique mix of expert commentary, insight, humour and entertainment. In a new digital era the programme and its accompanying download have never been more popular with its audience.?