The Comrades Marathon on 14 June faced widespread viewer complaints over broadcast problems on SABC and YouTube. Technical glitches disrupted interviews and coverage despite strong viewership numbers.
The ultra-marathon, run between two South African cities, drew more than 20,000 participants. Production company T+W handled the YouTube livestream, which reached audiences in over 50 countries.
Viewers reported missing audio during winner George Kusche’s post-race interview and overlapping sound during Gerda Steyn’s segment. Additional problems included incorrect camera focus and feed freezing on SABC 2.
T+W chief operating officer Jack Davis said the team would review the broadcast. The company used 40 cameras and aimed to tell runners’ stories from within the race.
SABC received only a clean feed after Athletics South Africa awarded rights without prior consultation with the Comrades Marathon Association. The YouTube stream recorded 742,000 unique views and 389,000 hours watched.
