Perhaps best known for its foray into pornography, TopTV’s anti-climax in the world of broadcasting has resulted in a little-known fact: South Africa has suffered a loss of almost R1,2bn because of this venture, which critics say it should not have flirted with in the first place. Three arms
Browsing: TopTV
TopTV has had not an auspicious start to life. Although it was the only one of five new pay-TV operators licensed five years ago by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa to take on MultiChoice and DStv to actually launch, it was always going to be uphill. The troubled telecaster “celebrated” the end
China’s digital pay-television company StarTimes walked away the winner on Tuesday in the TopTV takeover saga, although at least one of the losing consortiums is considering challenging the legality of the deal. Government will be the biggest loser with losses over R1bn. The meeting
The shareholders and creditors of troubled pay-television operator On Digital Media (ODM), which owns TopTV, have approved a business rescue plan that involves an offer by China’s StarTimes to purchase a direct 20% stake. The required majority of creditors
Just a day after it was revealed that a consortium led by MSG Afrika, backed with funding from MultiChoice, was making a bid to buy troubled pay-television operator TopTV, it has emerged that a second company, Wananchi Group, has submitted an expression of interest of its own
DStv operator MultiChoice, which is owned by media giant Naspers, has agreed to back a bid by a broad-based consortium wanting to buy into and rescue the financially troubled On Digital Media (ODM), owner of TopTV. A broad-based consortium led by businessmen
A consortium led by businessmen Given Mkhari and Malose Kekana has made an unsolicited offer to buy a stake in struggling pay-television operator TopTV, website BDlive reported on Monday. TopTV is owned by On Digital Media, which is currently trading under a “business rescue” in
Financially distressed pay-television operator TopTV has been given the nod by its regulator to broadcast thee adult content channels. The company may only broadcast the channels — Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice — between 8pm and 5am, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has ruled
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TopTV parent On Digital Media is turning to China in an effort to stave off business failure. The proposed deal will result in China’s StarTimes taking a 20% stake in the business, the maximum foreign shareholding allowed for South African broadcasters. The troubled operator