TopTV proposes a double PIN for its new porn bouquet of three sex channels it wants to start broadcasting as soon as possible, but all of TopTV subscribers will be able to see and have access to the trio of titillating channels on TopTV's on-screen electronic programme guide (EPG) in terms of show names and individual programme synopsis - although TopTV says that that EPG information will be "watered down".
The struggling TopTV, currently under business rescue, is launching a second attempt to introduce pornographic TV channels as a separate package on its pay-TV service and has applied at South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to start broadcasting the channels Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice.
The sex bouquet's channels will carry an R18 classification and TopTV says adding the separate bouquet as soon as possible will give it "a fighting chance of survival".
The programming information of the sex channels will be readily available to all TopTV subscribers on TopTV's electronic programme guide (EPG) - the on-screen TV guide employed by pay-TV providers - whether TopTV subscribers are making use of the separate porn bouquet or not.
TopTV says the EPG text and descriptions will however be "watered down to accommodate different sensitivities".
"The channel descriptors and the synopsis for the programme will be the full extend of exposure to the channel," says TopTV in its application document to Icasa of a potential TopTV viewer who lands on one of the channels without access. "Subscribers who choose not to access the additional channels will have a blank landing screen that states: This Service is Blocked (4)".
"Only once a subscriber requests access to a channel will they see the actual content available on the channel. In any event, they will still have to utilize a multiple PIN system to eventually access the content," says TopTV.
TopTV says that "the information that would appear on the EPG as channel descriptors and detailed programme synopsis (when additional information is requested) will be highly edited and watered down to ensure that there is no offensive or overly descriptive material to avoid any indirect exposure to children or those adults not interested in the material."
The South African public and all interested parties can comment on TopTV's porn channel plans with correspondence which has to be sent to Ndondo Dube, Broadcasting Licencing Unit, Licencing and Compliance Division, Block D, Pinmill Farm, 164 Katherine Street, Sandton Johannesburg or email pndube@icasa.org.za or fax 011 566 3200.
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