The MultiChoice Group that runs the DStv satellite pay-TV service and includes brands ranging from M-Net, and kykNET to SuperSport to Mzansi Magic is taking South Africa's broadcasting regulator to court over its inquiry into broadcasting sports rights.
MultiChoice has filed papers in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria against the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), saying that MultiChoice will go out of business if Icasa goes through with its proposed broadcasting rights regulation changes.
The Star newspaper on Wednesday reported that the court application was filed on Monday and MultiChoice wants the regulator to "provide "all the information, evidence and research" that went into its draft findings that it published on 12 April 2019.
Icasa plans to hold public hearings this week in Pretoria on the controversial draft sports broadcasting services amendment regulations that the regulator published in 14 December 2018 and that many different groups including sporting codes in South Africa have said would severely damage broadcasting in South Africa as well as the ability of different sporting interests to get funding from broadcasting through licensing rights.
In a statement about the public hearings Icasa said that "The review of existing regulations is common within the regulatory environment, and this process is no exception. As developments happen and new information come to the fore, Icasa is required to re-look the relevance of its existing regulations and where necessary initiate a process for the review of such regulations".
"This review is intended to identify and list national sporting events while ensuring that subscription broadcasting service licensees do not acquire exclusive rights that prevent or hinder the free-to-air broadcasting of national sporting events."