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By Yasmine Jacobs 
1 hour ago
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies told parliament in a presentation that it wants at least 30% of all programs broadcast in South Africa to be produced locally.
This comes as the department plans to go ahead with controversial new proposals that would require international streaming services like Netflix to charge license fees.
This means popular streaming services like Netflix, Apple +, Showmax and Amazon Prime will have to pay license fees in South Africa in the future AND they will need to ensure that 30% of their content offered here is produced locally.
Last month, the government received a backlash following a proposal that would see Netflix and Multichoice collect streaming license fees, to be paid to SABC, from their users.
The department confirmed to the Communications Portfolio Committee that it had already received 20,000 comments on its proposals.
“These video-on-demand subscription services, when they come and operate in South Africa, everything they show to South Africans in terms of their catalog, 30% of that catalog should include South African content,” said Collin Mashile, CEO of Policy of Broadcasting in the Department of Communications. “In all countries, the most popular shows are still local shows.”
“In paragraph 5.2.8, where we deal with the promotion of South African content and languages, the draft White Paper, in paragraph 5.2.8.9, indicates that with regard to on-demand content services aimed at South African audiences, we also they should have South African Content Obligations, ”said Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in response to written parliamentary questions from Deputy Chief Prosecutor Michael Waters.
Under this proposal, a TV license could be extended to cover the use of pay TV services such as DStv, as well as video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The comment period has been extended until February 15, 2021 and please email your comments to [email protected]
IOL TECH
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