General Manager of SABC Sport Gary Rathbone has announced that he is leaving the public broadcaster.
Rathbone is launching a new venture, Sportscape Media, which will focus on connecting broadcasters, teams, sponsors and sports media specialists across the African continent.
Rathbone previously headed SuperSport’s African operations and dedicated African sports news channel Sports News Africa. He also worked as Director of Sport for Star Times in Beijing and London, Zuku TV in Nairobi, and Discovery Network International.
Rathbone joined the SABC in May 2020 and was responsible for rolling out a dedicated 24/7 SABC Sports channel and increasing the public broadcaster’s sports properties from around 14 in early 2020 to over 50 at present, including the acquisition of properties such as the AFCON and CAF Champions League, the FIFA World Cup, Netball World Cup, the English Premier League, Bundesliga, and the French Top 14 Rugby Championship.
HAVE YOU ALSO WATCHED?: Video – SABC Sport chief looks at changing broadcast landscape
Under Rathbone’s tenure, the SABC also saw a strong and sustained focus on women’s sport across all platforms, with the likes of the Hollywoodbets Super League, COSAFA Women’s Club Championship, the Women’s African Cup of Nations, CAF Women’s Champions League, Women’s Proteas international cricket series, Springbok Women’s rugby internationals, and international women’s events such as the English FA Women’s Super League, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the W Series F1 motor racing, and the FIH Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup.
“Sport is well placed to play a key role in building the national cohesion South Africa really needs, and it’s essential that the best sport in the country is available on the public broadcaster,” said Rathbone.
Sportscape will also explore digital and OTT engagement strategies, linking sports content, media platforms, broadcasters and brands to the world of new opportunities opening up across the media landscape.
“For brands and broadcast platforms, the future is all about reaching as many people as possible, across a variety of platforms and services, with content that is relevant, valuable and exciting. Sportscape Media is ready to make that happen,” said Rathbone.
