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The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has proposed that a regulation be implemented to expand the definition of a television license to include services like Netflix.
In a presentation to Parliament’s Communications Portfolio Committee by Vice Minister of Communications Pinky Kekana, the public broadcaster has argued that the expanded definition of a television license is outdated and should be adjusted to current realities.
The SABC said a regulation is needed that requires pay-TV service providers like MultiChoice (DStv) and video-on-demand providers like Netflix to obtain television licenses on behalf of the SABC.
He added that this would be similar to municipalities charging traffic tickets and motor vehicle license discs.
Kekana said during the presentation that the government’s proposal to help SABC improve its financial position would include allowing the public broadcaster to collect license fees from non-TV users.
“Including interaction with those who have been broadcasting SABC programs on their pay TV, how do we make sure through ICASA that they too can help us collect TV licenses?” Kekana said.
“But we are not just limiting it to television. We also have other platforms where people consume content and in all those areas, that’s where we should see how we can get SABC license fees from those devices. “
This means that SABC wants users who watch content on devices like laptops and smartphones to pay license fees as well.
Sports rights
The SABC has also called for better access to national sports rights; specifically, you want to access these broadcast rights at an improved rate.
The SABC argued that national sports should be available at “a very affordable price.”
Another point of the presentation to Parliament was the proposal to eliminate the mandatory broadcast rule for the SABC, which requires all subscription stations with more than 30 channels to broadcast the three free-to-air television channels of the SABC.
However, current regulations state that the SABC “must offer its television programs, free of charge,” to broadcast stations by subscription rather than allowing commercial negotiations between the parties.
The SABC said instead it wants to negotiate with pay TV providers to pay for these channels, as it noted that current regulations mean the deal was “unilateral” in favor of Multichoice.
Pinky Kekana presentation slide
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