ALSO READ: TopTV confirms plans for its big porn package: plans to pump pornographic channels rated R18 to subscribers as part of a new porn package.
On Digital Media (ODM) that operates the TopTV pay platform in South Africa wants to run at least 3 pornographic TV channels in South Africa. That comes at the same time as what PSat is getting ready to launch a porn channel as well in January and targeting TopTV subscribers who's satellite dishes are already aligned and would need to just swap decoders and smartcards.
TopTV's tittillating TV plans are in stark contrast to CEO Vino Govender's promise a year and a half ago when TopTV launched in May 2010 that TopTV will not be pumping porn to subscribers.
ALSO READ: On Digital Media on porn: No adult TV content for TopTV.
Now TopTV has applied to the Independent Broadcasting Authority of South Africa (Icasa) that regulates broadcasting in the country, to run 3 such adult television content channels.
On Digital Media's application for authorisation of channels was published in the Government Gazette on 17 November. The South African public had two weeks until 1 December to comment on the application.
TopTV hasn't yet responded to media enquiries made about the planned PSat service which want to pipe the French Lover TV hardcore pornography channel into South Africa - a French channel originating from outside of South Africa that's actually part of CanalSat's offering.
TopTV hasn't yet responded to follow-up enquiries regarding TopTV's own plans for porn and what led to the application and the company's apparent about-turn on its earlier launch statements regarding adult TV content.
Icasa's spokesperson Paseka Maleka tells TV with Thinus that TopTV ''has applied for 3 video channels. The application is currently under review. It's for adult TV content and the authority has not yet taken a decision.''
''There might be hearings, we are busy with the process. We are still waiting for comments from the public and stakeholders. Then we will look at all the submissions and there could be a public hearing,'' says Paseka Maleka.
