Communications regulator Icasa is powering ahead with a plan to license new free-to-air television broadcasters in South Africa to compete with the SABC and e.tv.

If new players are licensed, it will be the first time South Africa has had a new free-to-air broadcaster since e.tv took to the airwaves in 1998 — under the Nelson Mandela administration.

Icasa this week issued an invitation for interested parties to apply for individual commercial free-to-air television broadcasting services licences. Kagiso Media and Times Media Group are two parties said to be likely to be keen to consider applying for a licence.

The invitation to apply (ITA) applies to service licence applications. A separate process will be held to license the spectrum successful applicants will need to begin broadcasting.

Applicants must have at least 30% ownership held by historically disadvantages groups. They must pay a non-refundable deposit of R500 000 to apply. The closing date for applications is 1 December 2014.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago declined to comment on the developments. “We are not in a position to respond … until we have formally engaged with Icasa and have been provided all the details,” he told TechCentral.

E.tv chief operating officer Bronwyn Keene-Young couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

The move to license new players comes as South Africa gears up to move from analogue to digital terrestrial television. Digital TV, whose introduction in South Africa has been delayed by several years, makes more efficient use of radio frequency spectrum, allowing Icasa to license new free-to-air and subscription broadcasters. It recently provisionally licensed five new pay-TV broadcasters, though hasn’t yet issued spectrum to any of them.

Last month, Icasa advertised for a consultant to help it with analysis of the market research, financials and business plans of applications for new free-to-air broadcasters. — © 2014 NewsCentral Media