On Digital Media (ODM) which runs the struggling TopTV satellite pay-TV service in South Africa will now have to register as a porn purveyor broadcasting sexually explicit content says South Africa's Film and Publication Board (FPB).
South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) last week announced that ODM's application for authorisation for a trio of sex channels as part of a separate porn bouquet is approved.
TopTV is currently in business rescue and facing liquidation unless China's StarTimes or Dynamic TV with a loan from MultiChoice gets approval to become a new capital investor.
TopTV wants to broadcast the three TV channels - Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice - as a separate bouquet and with a rating classification of R18.
The channels are provided to TopTV by Playboy TV UK / Benelux Limited in England and are uplinked through SES Platform Services in Munich, Germany to South Africa.
According to the FPB, the pay-TV operator will have to register "as a distributor of sexually explicit content".
According to the FPB, "distributors of sexually explicit content which may be classified as X18 must register with the FPB and must also be holder of a licence to conduct the business of adult premises (broadcasting)."
