BREAKING. SABC sees itself as the leaning tower of Pisa; looking for ''broadcast levy on all TV receiving equipment''.

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I have the SABC's power point presentation on its just presented turnaround strategy in parliament which contains many hidden and fascinating titbits missed by everyone - like the South African public broadcaster who now seems intent on introducing what it calls a ''broadcast levy'' for all TV receiving equipment as another attempt to fill its coffers besides its income from TV license fees.

Entitled ''SABC High Level Turnaround Plan'' and presented before parliament this week, the power point presentation starts with the image above. Then the SABC board, describing the situation of the ''SABC Today'' uses this embarrassing picture of the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy, saying that it wants to increase revenue ''through revised pricing and by ''creating schedule stability''.

Under ''kep projects underway'' the power point presentation lists ''TV license annual increase'' signalling the intention and possiblity of raising SABC license fees. More enigmatic is the ''key project'' of ''Broadcast levy in all TV receiving equipment'' which is not explained further. Then the SABC is also busy with its new SABC News TV channel that will be replacing the now defunct SABC News International channel.

Hidden, but there, is that the SABC is not happy with SABC3 and SABC News. Both are listed under the area that needs work regarding ''Improving return on programming expenditure.'' What it means is that the SABC is not happy with the amount of money its making from what the broadcaster is spending within SABC3 and the news division. This must be completed by the end of 2011. The SABC also wants definite schedule stability by the end of next year.

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