You're reading it here first. I'm still working through it and will update of course, but the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has just republished its final Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) regulations.These regulations will govern South Africa's switchover to digital television, referred to as the ''digital migration'' over the next few years.
E.tv has issued an urgent interdict at the end of August and plans to take Icasa to court on 15 September because of some of the provisions and language in the regulations.
It NOW SEEMS AS IF ICASA has CHANGED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AND PROVISIONS THAT E.TV IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH.
NO LONGER THE CASE:
Broadcasters can now CHOOSE their signal provider (the so called ''ECNS''). E.tv was unhappy that they have to go with Sentech.
NO LONGER THE CASE:
Icasa now conveniently ''clarifies'' that ONLY THE SABC ''will be required to provide services in all official languages'' (regarding sound tracks for local content programs). E.tv was hugely unhappy with being forced to broadcast in multiple languages.
NO LONGER THE CASE:
Icasa initially said there won't be ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS about the final draft of the regulations. NOW ICASA IS MAJORLY BACKTRACKING and saying ''the Authority has not decided whether or not it will hold public hearings'' and that ''a decision on whether or not to hold public hearings'' will be made LATER.
NO LONGER THE CASE:
Hidden in CRAZY LANGUAGE, VAGUE LEGALESE and SO OPEN TO INTERPRETATION Icasa is kindof-maybe-almost-possibly-could it be?-will they/won't they saying that the regulations won't be BACKDATED so that broadcasters won't be RETROACTIVELY FINED for non-compliance. E.tv was hugely unhappy with the possibility of being fined retroatively for non-compliance to the DTT regulations.
Is Icasa NOW BUCKING UNDER PRESSURE from e.tv and just want the interdict to go away??
Will e.tv NOW drop the interdict??
As soon as I get word from e.tv I will post it here first.
