I reported last month the minister of communications, Dina Pule, wants to establish to oversee and advise the South African TV industry on local TV content - both in terms of productions and development, as well as quotas, and strategies for the new digital era of TV broadcasting in South Africa.
The plan is for the SABPAB - the acronymn coined by the department of communications - to have 12 members who will be advising South Africa's government on the development, production and broadcast of local TV content in the country.
The SABPAB will have to represent the South African government, thre regulator, civil society, consumer groups and organised labour.
Interestingly the SABPAB, the minister and the department of communications makes zero mention about the inclusion of actual TV critics, TV writers and journalists covering television (who probably wouldn't want to be included anyway due to a possible conflict of interest) but who actually cover and know the medium very well.
Nominations for the South African Broadcast Production Advisory Body (SABPAB) must be made by 20 July. Nominations should be send to: The Minister of Communications, For attention: Ms Sewela Letsoalo, The Department of Communications, P/Bag X860, Pretoria.
Nominations van be emailed to: sewela@doc.gov.za
Nominations can be faxed to: 012 427 8030.
