A defiant Platco Digital which so far isn't answering specific media questions put to to the company after it heartily talked to the press yesterday announcing that the SABC's 3 TV channels are part of the launch bouquet, is now saying in a terse and mysterious statement that Platco Digital will "be carrying SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 from the launch date".
The surprising fight between the yet-to launch OpenView HD and the SABC erupted after Platco Digital's managing director, Maxwell Nonge told the press that the satellite service costing R1 600 will launch on 15 October with 16 TV channels of which the SABC's SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 form part.
Platco Digital running OpenView HD is a sister company to e.tv which plans to broadcast four new e.tv channels, eKasi+, eToonz+, eMovies+ and eAfrica+, as part of yesterday's announced channel line-up which Maxwell Nonge said includes the SABC's channels.
Platco Digital in a terse statement in response to specific questions in a media enquiry, now only says the SABC can't prevent Platco Digital from broadcasting SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 on OpenView HD and that Platco Digital will go ahead with the inclusion of the channels from launch.
"The SABC as the public broadcaster has various obligations and any attempts by the SABC to prevent Platco from carrying the SABC channels would be unlawful," says Platco Digital.
TV channels on Platco Digital's OpenView HD have to pay Platco Digital in carriage deals. Platco Digital says TV channels then get a wider reach and audience and can charge more for advertising.
The Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) told TV with Thinus today that the so-called "must carry" regulations whereby a platform such as Platco Digital would just get the SABC channels for free because it has to carry them, doesn't apply.
OpenView HD is a free satellite service and the "must carry" regulations for public TV channels under analogue broadcasting regulations only apply to pay-TV or subscription-based satellite television services such as the SABC channels being included on MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's TopTV.
Platco Digital did offer a discount rate to the SABC for the public broadcaster's channels to be available on OpenView HD, but the SABC balked at paying.
Platco Digital so far refuses to say whether it has a contract and signed carriage agreement with the SABC.
Platco Digital so far refuses to say whether Platco had a carriage agreement signed before it made the public announcement yesterday to the press that the SABC channels will be on OpenView HD.
Platco says "the SABC has obligations" but isn't explaining what that means. Platco says attempt by the SABC to prevent Platco from carrying the SABC channels on OpenView HD would be unlawful, but refuses to elaborate and explain what Platco means by that.
Why does Platco want to carry the SABC's TV channels if the SABC is clearly not in favour of it, and if it is clear to Platco now that the SABC doesn't want to be in business with it?
