18 pay-TV applicants identified

Johannesburg, 18 Sep 2006

The identities of all 18 companies that shelled out R100 000 each to apply for a pay-TV licence have been revealed.

Aside from the larger players like MultiChoice (which was previously operating legally, but without a formal licence), the SABC (in partnership with Sentech), Telkom, Black Earth Communication and eTV (via E-SAT), there are a host of smaller companies hoping to challenge MultiChoice`s dominance of the market.

German language broadcaster Deukom Television is seeking to formalise its licence, though CEO Jochen Weida says he does not know when the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) will licence the successful companies.

Deukom has about 10 000 subscribers in Southern Africa, operating from a "separate subscription bouquet" on the DSTV infrastructure. Subscribers receive seven German TV channels and three radio stations for a R400 monthly fee.

MAX TV - a shopping channel dedicated to video game accessories and gadgets, and available on Sky Digital`s channel 666 - also appears on ICASA`s list.

Local applicants

Pretoria-based power-line broadband company Goal Technology Solutions has confirmed its application to provide video-on-demand services.

Little-known local entities, African Spirit Trading 330 and Khetha Media, appear as surprise applicants on the list. Efforts to contact these companies this morning proved unsuccessful.

On Digital Media, which is owned by Kopano Ke Matla Investment Holdings (an investment arm of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, has also applied to the regulator.

Other applicants include Quantic TV Network, Walking on Water Television, MultiChannel Television, Satellite Media TV, Q Digital Cable Vision, MiDigital, and World Space.

Sipho Tsotetsi, acting GM at ICASA`s broadcasting division, anticipates the findings will be finalised before the end of June next year, though he says this is not a certain deadline.

"Council still has to appoint a committee," he says. After following confidentiality processes, that council will gazette the submissions for public comment in due course, he adds.