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The country’s top pay-TV operation DStv has responded to the SABC board’s call that they and other subscription TV services pay the public broadcaster for showing free-to-air channels SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 on their bouquets.
The new SABC board yesterday sent a letter to industry regulator the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) asking for a change to Icasa’s 2008 “must carry” regulations that stipulate the channels be carried free on large pay-TV operations. They said giving away free content was hurting the public broadcaster commercially and benefiting operations like DStv.
SABC’s channels are widely watched by subscribers via DStv’s decoders and SABC1 remains the nation’s best-loved channel.
In response, MultiChoice, the owner of DStv, has sent a letter of its own to Icasa, struggling to veil its annoyance with the SABC’s sudden request.
Responding to questions from City Press, general manager of corporate affairs at MultiChoice, Jackie Rakitla, said: “We don’t agree with the SABC that the ‘must carry’ regulations have failed to protect the integrity and viability of public broadcasting services, or that MultiChoice has commercially benefited from the regulations at the expense of the public broadcaster. The regulations had great benefit to the public broadcaster and the public at large as SABC channels were made available nationwide on all pay television platforms, including on DStv, to fulfil the SABC’s universal access mandate.”
He added that the “must carry” regulations “were debated extensively during the integrated ICT white paper review process. The draft white paper on audio-visual and content services is currently before Cabinet. It addresses, among other issues, the ‘must carry’ regulations and the funding of the public broadcaster.”
The white paper in question needs to respond to the rapidly changing TV landscape as digital technology revolutionises the industry.
Rakitla challenged the SABC to test the matter in court: “We believe any stakeholder, including the SABC, that does not agree with Icasa or thinks the authority acted outside of its powers, can have the process reviewed through the courts. The SABC chose not to do so when the regulations were made nine years ago.”
MultiChoice’s letter to Icasa copies in a range of other subscription TV services, taking exception to being singled out by SABC and says the public broadcaster is being “disingenuous” by raising a nine-year-old issue out of the blue.
Read DStv's full response here:
DStv responds to SABC by CityPress on Scribd
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