The South African public broadcaster as part of its digital terrestrial television (DTT) offering will launch a new TV channel, SABC Education, on 4 May that will initially be available for streaming on YouTube and be available for free through DTT decoders.
SABC Education is the first new TV channel that the broadcaster is launching besides its SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 channels set, as well as its SABC News (DStv 404) and SABC Encore (DStv 156) channels carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.
The SABC is far behind on rolling out new TV channels as part of its DTT offering, citing a lack of funds for the mandated switch from analogue to digital television broadcasting in South Africa.
SABC Education will carry educational programming from the department of education, archived shows from the SABC library, as well as educational programmes seen and available on SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3.
The SABC says that other platforms for SABC Education will hopefully be added later. SABC Education will be a linear DTT TV channel, with additional educational programming that will be streamed on digital platforms.
The digital streaming of the channel will be carried using the SABC Education portal, SABC Education Virtual Academy (SEVA), social media like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and other SABC channel websites.
Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, says in a statement that "The launch of the channel is timely, as the nation requires these interventions to fill gaps that have been created by Covid-19 related adjustments. In particular, this initiative will ensure that education and learning continues outside the traditional classroom environment".
"The introduction of the SABC Education channel is in line with our education strategy which has been in the pipeline for some time."
