The SABC’s fight with Sentech over tariffs is going from a skirmish to a full-blown public confrontation. The stakes couldn’t be higher – for both sides.
The SABC has begun warning viewers of its analogue terrestrial television channels that the broadcasts are coming to an end as the country finally moves to digital terrestrial technology.
The SABC has concluded a lengthy retrenchment programme and will officially have shed 621 jobs, or at least 21% of its workforce, by the end of this month as it moves to avoid the need for further bailouts.
The SABC and eMedia Investments have inked a channel carriage agreement that will see the public broadcaster supplying Openview with six television channels – SABC 1, 2 and 3 and three new channels.
Acting minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has paid tribute to Peter Matlare for his contribution to the economic development of South Africa.
The SABC wants a new tax on households introduced to fund public broadcasting and to do away with the television licence fee, which few South Africans are paying anyway.
The SABC wants a government proposal that it be required to distribute its television programming exclusively through Sentech scrapped, warning that it’s already being disadvantaged by “monopoly” pricing.
Yet another deadline set by the South African government to complete the now 10-year-overdue migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television has been allowed to slide.
Newly elected Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has appointed a new shadow cabinet, which sees Zak Mbhele named as shadow minister of communications, replacing Phumzile Van Damme.
The SABC said on Friday that it will issue notices of termination of lease agreements for its non-core properties and will sell these at an upcoming public auction.