The two year old CTV is currently broadcasting without a licence after the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) refused to consider its new licence application because of a moratorium on issuing new community television licences. However, the moratorium is not supposed to impact existing community television broadcasters and station who already received licences in the past.
Meanwhile CTV could have it's signal cut at any moment. Last October CTV went dark for several weeks after signal distributor Sentech pulled the plug on CTV that owed it thousands in outstanding transmission cost. CTV - which has to pay Sentech commercial transmission cost rates because Icasa has not updated the broadcasting policy to allow for cheaper rates for community television stations - owes Sentech in the region of R700 000.
ALSO READ: CTV fighting Icasa for a permanent, seven year broadcasting licence.
