BREAKING. SABC wants funding of R1,6 billion for TV content, R90 million for marketing and R145 million for master control centre for DTT.

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The South African public broadcaster wants R1,6 billion in funding for the South African government for TV content for the SABC's digital terrestrial television (DTT) roll-out, another R90 million for marketing of DTT, and another R145 million for a new digital master control centre over the next 3 years.

The SABC has asked for this funding for the next 3 years as the public broadcaster is preparing, together with the other broadcasters, to switch from an analogue to a digital broadcasting environment in the country, a process known as digital migration.

''Basically over the course of the 3 years, - 2013, 2014 and 2015 - content cost is in the region of R1,6 billion,'' Richard Waghorn, the SABC's chief technology officer told parliament today. ''That's excluding the SABC Sport channel and the new 24 hour news channel.''

''In terms fo the infrastructure for marketing for DTT it's in the region of R90 million, again over 3 years,'' he said. ''The cost of the SABC's digital playout centre is R145 million including the new master control centre.''

''Those are the three requests we've put in to the NTF. The content cost is for 15 TV channels and that's over 3 years. That would also include the cost of some of the elements like some of the subtitling and some other e-services as well,'' Richard Waghorn said.