You're reading it here first.
I can break the news that digital terrestrial television (DTT) in South Africa is going to lead to the creation of two new joint ventures between South African broadcasters to manage certain aspects.
The first joint venture will be between the SABC, e.tv and M-Net to create a platform management joint venture. This first joint venture between all three the broadcasters in South Africa will look after creating and consolidating the service information that drives the electronic programme guide (EPG) for instance, and which will be integrated into the STB for all the TV channels.
The second joint venture will be one between the SABC and e.tv to establish a brand-new, South African free-to-air broadcasters' association. Can we talk about acronyms already? FABA? FBA? Whatever this association is called, this joint venture will start out between the SABC and e.tv. However, any other free-to-air broadcasters (that joint the DTT platform in future) could join.
South Africa's free-to-air broadcasters' association will be responsible for the marketing of the free-to-air brand, which I've revealed will be known as Multiview. This association of the SABC and e.tv will also work together to development the user-interface as well as promoting the product offering, for instance the 18 new TV channels of the SABC and e.tv's DTT channel grouping.
