The SABC that struggles to pay independent production companies and owes producers millions of rands in outstanding fees on Thursday said existing content funding bodies in South Africa should focus less on financing local films and put a bigger emphasis on giving cash to TV producers.
Bongumusa Makhathini, SABC chairperson, who spoke at the Public Broadcasting Colloquium held at the Gallagher Convention Centre, said funding organisations should be consolidated and that more money should be given to independent television producers since most money is going to film production.
The SABC itself owes multiple production companies millions of rands over months and just recorded another annual loss of R622 million, with the public broadcaster's biggest show, Uzalo on SABC1 that just resumed production after it shut down completely for a week due to the SABC's non-payment of producers.
"The SABC believes that there should be a focus on how the existing content funding bodies and mechanisms can be consolidated, strengthened and better resourced in South Africa,"said Bongumusa Makhathini.
"Most of these public funds have been disbursed for feature film production. By providing more funding for independent television producers, content funding bodies will not only share the obligation with the SABC and other broadcasters but will ensure that producers are able to retain a
greater share of the rights, post-initial broadcast."
He said that "the only way to remain relevant and retain large audiences is for the SABC to continue to focus on making excellent television and radio content".
Bongumusa Makhathini.again repeated that the SABC wants to be paid by pay-TV operators like MultiChoice and StarTimes South Africa's StarSat for SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 that these operators are forced to carry under the broadcasting regulator's so-called "must-carry" rules.
He said the "fees that the SABC should be receiving from other broadcasters for SABC1, SACB2 and SABC3 must become part of a more significant commercial revenue stream for the public broadcaster".
