As the DStv contract termination dispute over Glow TV grows, the Nismedia Group takes MultiChoice to court while MultiChoice remains adamant that it's dumping the Indian entertainment channel at the end of March.

More information is coming out about the ugly DStv contract termination dispute over the Indian entertainment channel, Glow TV (DStv 167 / OpenView HD 140 / StarSat 570) that MultiChoice decided to dump at the end of March, with the Nismedia Group that has gone to court to try and stop MultiChoice from axing the channel.

At the beginning of March TVwithThinus reported that MultiChoice is dumping Glow TV at the end of March.

Glow TV that was started and run by Kagiso Media and that launched in October 2013, has been taken over and is now owned by the Nismedia Group that took it over in July 2016, with Urban Brew Studios helping with managing some aspects of the channel.

MultiChoice says it's contract with Glow TV is coming to an end. It's not clear why MultiChoice didn't want to renew the Glow TV contract.

Glow TV has been South Africa's first attempt at a free-to-air digital TV channel dedicated to Indian and Eastern inspired programming. The channel has been sourcing content from India, the United Kingdom, America and Brazil.

Meanwhile Glow TV viewers are outraged about MultiChoice's plan to dump Glow TV at the end of the month.

"I have always seen great potential in GlowTV and the need for Eastern-inspired content in Southern Africa," says Nazeer Noormohamed, the head of the Nismedia Group.

"Our entry from print into the television sector, gave Nismedia a new and exciting national and international footprint."

"DStv has claimed that they will not be renewing the contract with Glow TV at the end of March 2018. Following this, Glow TV launched an urgent application against MultiChoice in the Johannesburg High Court. The court outcome outlined that the dispute needs to be referred for arbitration, as per the terms of the Glow TV/DStv contract," says Nazeer Noormohamed.

"While MultiChoice attempted to obtain an order that the arbitration should be finalised by end-March, this was not the order of the court. Until the final outcome of the legal process is pronounced, we have been advised by our attorneys that MultiChoice is compelled to keep Glow TV on their platform," says Nazeer Noormohamed.

"We have received an influx of support from our loyal viewers regarding this matter, for which we are most thankful. We will continue to bring our viewers the best content that has them riveted to their seats".

Meanwhile MultiChoice remains adamant that Glow TV will get dumped at the end of the month.

In response to a media enquiry asking about MultiChoice's contract termination dispute with the Nismedia Group over Glow TV, MultiChoice told TVwithThinus that "Glow TV’s contract will come to an end in March and they will stop airing on DStv at the end of March 2018".

Indian channel Glow TV from the Nismedia Group going dark on DStv at the end of March as contract isn't renewed, Glow TV will remain on competitors StarSat and OpenView HD.

The Indian-focused channel Glow TV is going dark on MultiChoice DStv at the end of March but will remain available on competitors StarTimes Media SA's StarSat on channel 570 and on Platco Digital's OpenView HD on channel 108.

Glow TV that was started and run by Kagiso Media and that launched in October 2013, has been taken over and is now owned by the Nismedia Group that took it over in July 2016, with Urban Brew Studios helping with managing some aspects of the channel.

MultiChoice says it's contract with Glow TV is coming to an end. It's not clear why MultiChoice didn't want to renew the Glow TV contract.

Glow TV has been South Africa's first attempt at a free-to-air digital TV channel dedicated to Indian and Eastern inspired programming. The channel has been sourcing content from India, the United Kingdom, America and Brazil.

As with several channels where the programming offering of new content is too limited, Glow TV viewers have been complaining about too many repeats and too little new shows.

Former SABC TV boss Verona Duwarkah appointed as new Urban Brew Studios CEO with immediate effect.

The former SABC TV boss Verona Duwarkah has been appointed as Urban Brew Studios CEO with immediate effect.

It's the respected and high-profile South African TV executive's first banner-title job since Veronah Duwarkah's shocking and acrimonious exit from the scandal-ridden South African public broadcaster.

Verona Duwarkah was one of many talented executives who were forced out at the SABC during 2015 and 2016 under the draconian destruction of the corrupt liar and now fired former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Verona Duwarkah's tenure as the SABC's top TV boss in the position of group executive of the SABC Television division between 2012 and 2016, came to an abrupt end after months of behind-the-scenes executive in-fighting with Hlaudi Motsoeneng who usurped, dismantled and corrupted standard and established TV pitching, commissioning and scheduling protocol and procedures.

In her new role as Urban Brew Studios CEO, effective immediately, Verona Duwarkah takes over from Richard Tsai who has been the acting CEO since the beginning of 2017.

Richard Tsai has been appointed as Urban Brew Studios COO.

During her 26 year career in the media industry, Verona Duwarkah has held various positions at the SABC, including general manager of strategic projects between 2007 and 2012, and has also been a consultant business manager at Cote Ouest.

'We  look forward to Verona sharing her experience, which spans various aspects of the business, including finance, TV channel management, content production management, strategy development, implementation and general and executive management," says Mark Harris, Kagiso Media group CEO.

"We welcome her to the Kagiso Media family and know she will be an asset."

Verona Duwarkah says "I am incredibly excited to take on this challenge as I move on to the next level of my career in an entirely different business environment."

"I look forward to applying my many years of media experience in this business, ensuring that it grows and adapts to a rapidly changing landscape."

Urban Brew Studios lastest TV productions include  Urban Brew Studios' latest productions include #WTF Tumi currently broadcast on SABC3, the recent Tyres & Braaiers that was also on SABC3, The Search E! Host South Africa that was broadcast on MultiChoice's E! Entertainment (DStv 124), SABC1's magazine shows like YOTV, Live AMP, RGB and Break da Beat as well as SABC3's Top Chef South Africa.

DStv dumps the [ED] educational and documentary channel from Kagiso Media's Urban Brew Studios after 3 years following disappointing viewership.

MultiChoice is dumping the [ED] educational and documentary channel from its DStv and GOtv satellite pay-TV platforms in South Africa and across Africa after three years, following a lackluster performance from the Urban Brew Studios produced and packaged channel.

DStv will shut [ED] (DStv 190) down at midnight at the end of this month at midnight on Wednesday 30 November - just shy of three years on the air since it launched on 10 December 2013.

The shuttering of the [ED] channel follows MultiChoice's removal of channels from DStv like AMC, BET2, CBS Action, CBS Drama and True Movies over the past year and terminating the M-Net Movies Comedy, M-Net Movies Family and M-Net Movies Romance channels all as part of ongoing content consolidation plans.

[ED], the first channel owned by Kagiso Media's Urban Brew, at launch in 2013 touted that it would be a locally packaged educational channel specialising in "high-end" international and local documentaries and educational TV content.

After a year on air, in December 2014, [ED] announced a revamp in its offering with a raft of locally-produced series and new faces to anchor its local content offering, but it didn't help lift viewership.

[ED] struggled to gain traction and viewership despite being made available beyond South Africa on MultiChoice's GOtv platform across Africa and is now being axed after MultiChoice decided not to renew the contract.

Since [ED] is not available on eMedia Investment's OpenView HD platform from Platco Digital or StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat, the termination of the channel on DStv means its shutting down completely.

It means the end of locally produced programming like the well-received Ayanda's Fashion House, and shows like the technology programme EDGE, The Criselda Dudumashe Show and #myopinion, while [ED] since 2015 also started covering and bringing viewers a unique first-hand look at South African film festivals and TV markets ranging from DISCOP in Johannesburg to the Durban International Film Festival.

"Thanks to our loyal [ED] valued viewers and advertisers for their continued support over the years," says Roberto Carletti, [ED] station manager. "Through our content, our viewers have remained curious and been inspired".

Urban Brew Studios promotes three: Herbert Hadebe, Adelaide Joshua-Hill and Joanne Lurie appointed to senior management positions.

Urban Brew Studios that belongs to Kagiso Media has promoted three staff members to senior management positions.

Herbert Hadebe has been appointed as the head of scripted productions, Adelaide Joshua-Hill is now the head of unscripted productions and Joanne Lurie is now the head of creative at Urban Brew Studios.

Herbert Hadebe has over 15 years of experience in the film and television industry and currently works on two drama series for Urban Brew Studios, Mzansi Magic's (DStv 161) Zabalaza and e.tv's Gold Diggers.

Adelaide Joshua-Hill started her career at Urban Brew seven years ago as an education consultant for SABC1's YOTV.  She then became head of YOTV mini and went on to head up the entire YOTV portfolio.

Adelaide Joshua-Hill's new role will include overseeing and managing production teams and providing leadership across all productions in the unscripted portfolio at Urban Brew Studios.

Joanne Lurie, who has been in the TV industry for 13 years, spent eight of her nine years at Urban Brew Studios producing 3Talk with Noeleen for SABC3. Before joining the company, she worked on international formats, including The Weakest Link, The Biggest Loser and Big Brother.

Veteran SABC TV journalist and anchor Faith Daniels has dumped the SABC; is now the head of news for Kagiso Media's news brands.

Veteran TV journalist Faith Daniels (39) has dumped the SABC and is now the head of news for Kagiso Media's news brands since the beginning of 2016.

Faith Daniels joined Kagiso Media to head up the news division at Jacaranda FM in Gauteng and East Coast Radio in KwaZulu-Natal since the beginning of this year.

In late 2015 Faith Daniels was one of a group of SABC news staffers who was unhappy with the SABC over alleged unfair work practices and involved in a labour dispute with the SABC that got so ugly that the SABC gave them letters of intention to suspend them.

According to reports, Clive Govender and Faith Daniels were "under immense pressure" at the SABC and apparently "unhappy about the level of incompetency in some of the regions" at the SABC's SABC News division, while work was piling up.

According to insiders they were getting paid less than other SABC News colleagues working in the same positions around the country and have to perform as central desk editors.

The additional burned on the workers came about when they were allegedly forced to take on the increased workload when the SABC launched its new second version of SABC News (DStv 404) as a 24-hour TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv platform, replacing the closed down SABC News International which failed.

The SABC News employees asked for better pay and back pay for the more work and duties they've been performing - for some going as far back as 2011.

Now Faith Daniels who anchored the 13:00 news on SABC3 and who served as editor in the public broadcaster's Johannesburg newsroom and who also worked at SAfm and Talk Radio 702 is gone from the SABC.

"As journalists, our stories are nothing special without the ordinary voice. If we cannot hold government, business and everyone else accountable through the ordinary voice, then we are failing ourselves," says Faith Daniels in a statement regarding her Kagiso Media appointment.

"Our radio news offerings have always been strong, and we're getting great traction digitally," says Nick Grubb, Kagiso Media's chief executive for radio.

"Faith will be helping us take this to another level though. Our newsrooms are a key centre for producing original content every day, and great content is our passion and focus."

Indian channel, Glow TV, from Kagiso Media added to StarSat from 14 January; follows addition of Glow TV content package to ONTAPtv.com.

The Indian channel, Glow TV is being added to StarSat's satellite pay-TV platform from Thursday 14 January on channel 570 to all subscribers.

Glow TV, packaged by Urban Brew Studios, a division of Kagiso Media, also saw a lot of its content in the form of a Glow TV package added to PCCW Global's streaming service ONTAPtv.com for R68 per month.

It means that Glow TV is now available on the satellite TV services of MultiChoice's DStv on channel 167, Platco Digital's OpenView HD on channel 108, On Digital Media (ODM) and China's StarTimes Media SA's StarSat, as well as on ONTAPtv.com.

The addition of Glow TV makes up for the loss of the Indian channels Star Plus and Star Vijay in December 2015 that jumped to DStv in a new carriage agreement.

"We're excited that through this move, Glow TV will be accessible to an even wider audience," says Naz Khan, Glow TV channel manager.

"South Africans, from all backgrounds, are becoming more enthusiastic about 'eastern' content. We believe the vibrancy, passion and family-centric nature of Glow TV's shows are alluring".

Ian Woodrow, StarSat head of content, says "Glow TV with its broad appeal and exciting line-up is bound to be a hit with StarSat audiences".

"Glow TV is an interesting addition to our platform and we believe many of our subscribers will make it part of their regular viewing. Much of its programming line-up has never been seen before in South Africa and the appeal of the channel is across general, rather than specific audiences," says Ian Woodrow.

Glow TV now broadcast soaps between 17:30 and 22:00 on weekdays and this month will see the start of the new soap, Saras, in which a young man falls in love with a girl while his domineering father and manipulative stepmother threaten to ruin the relationship.

Glow TV's programming is in Hindi (with subtitles) and in Englosh across various genres including food, comedy, travel, crime, drama, movies and cartoons. The soaps in prime time carry a dual soundtrack option for subscribers of Hindi or English.

Glow TV, a collaboration between Kagiso Media and Nolava Television, launched in October 2013 on OpenView HD. Glow TV was added a year later in October 2014 to MultiChoice's platform as well following a distribution agreement.

Kagiso Tiso Holdings' Kagiso Media invests undisclosed amount in Ghana's TV and radio in partnership with Sabido Investments.

Kagiso Tiso Holdings (KTH), through its media subsidiary Kagiso Media is investing in Ghana to grow a direct radio and TV presence in that African country similar to what Kagiso Media has in South Africa.

Kagiso Media is investing an undisclosed amount of money and has acquired 37% of Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company (GMABC), a broadcasting company in Ghana.

GMABC runs four radio stations in Ghana (Happy FM, YFM Kumasi, YFM Accra and YFM Takoradi) as well as the free-to-air terrestrial television channel e.tv Ghana, which was launched in 2009 as the result of a partnership between GMA and Sabido Investments that owns e.tv in South Africa.

"We are looking forward to operating in Ghana and using this as a base to expand our reach into other West African territories. It also offers us an opportunity to use our  content production capability across more distribution platforms," says Mark Harris, CEO of Kagiso Media.

Kagiso Media's investment in Ghana will be followed by a similar investment in Kenya.

Glow TV on DStv and OpenView HD shaking up its channel line-up and giving viewers a choice of audio listening options from 3 August.

The Indian Glow TV channel (DStv 167 / OVHD 108) is shaking up its channel line-up and giving viewers the opportunity of choosing different audio language tracks from Monday.

On Monday, 3 August, the channel from Kagiso Media carried on MultiChoice's DStv and Platco Digital's OpenView HD satellite platforms in South Africa will run soaps back-to-back between 17:30 until 22:00 at night on weekdays.

Viewers will also be able to flick between listening to their soaps in either English or the original Hindi on both DStv and OpenView HD. Glow TV says the line-up changes and language toggle are viewer-driven changes.

Glow TV is also starting children's programming on weekday afternoons and introducing what it calls premium lifestyle content on Saturday mornings and "family viewing" on weekend evenings.

The soap Sadda Haq at 17:30 will now be followed by an hour of Bade Ache Lagte Hai and the new soap Young Love will start at 19:30 until 20:30. Parichay follows at 20:30 and Office at 21:30.

"In the feedback that we've received, across all demographics, our soaps are some of the most loved shows. It made sense for us to dedicate a chunk of the weekday evenings to this genre of entertainment," says Naz Khan, Glow TV channel head.

Glow TV is starting children's programming from Monday on weekdays at 16:00, with programming like Mighty Raju, Little Bheem and Cops and Robbers.

On Saturday mornings Glow TV will have food programmes Mummy Ka Magic at 08:00 and Health Mange More at 09:00. This is followed by the wedding makeover show Band Baaja Bride in which brides are given five star treatment in the build-up to their big day.

On Saturday evenings Glow TV will show How to be Indie at 19:00 with Citizen Khan at 19:30 and a movie at 20:00.

Sunday evenings will now be dedicated to reality programming, with the dance show India's Dancing Superstar at 19:00, followed by the magazine style talk show Up Close and Personal at 20:30 and MTV Roadies at 21:30.

Glow TV, a collaboration between Kagiso Media and Nolava Television, launched in October 2013 on OpenView HD and was added a year later in October 2014 to MultiChoice's platform as well following a distribution agreement.

Kagiso Media acquires 100% ownership of South African production company Urban Brew Studios.

Kagiso Media has acquired 100% ownership of Urban Brew Studios, one of South Africa's independent production houses.

Urban Brew Studios is one of the largest production studios in South Africa, which supplies content and channels for the broadcast and entertainment industry.

Urban Brew Studios currently runs four channels on DStv: 1 Gospel (DStv 331), Dumisa (DStv 340), ED (DStv 190), and the community TV channel 1KZN (DStv 261).

Urban Brew also has production capacity in Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria and Cameroon.

The production company produces a range of shows for the SABC like Friends Like These, YO.TV, Live Amp, RGB, and Khumbul'ekhaya; as well as for e.tv like the upcoming new telenovela Gold Diggers and the current Mahadi – Lobola; as well as the telenovela Zabalaza for M-Net's Mzanzi Magic (DStv 161) pay-TV channel.

"Urban Brew Studios is recognised for its creative capability and talent in developing content and channels for both local and international markets by using its knowledge of local African languages and culture to develop content suitable to these markets," says Mark Harris, the CEO of Kagiso Media.

Mark Harris says the acquisition of Urban Brew Studios is in line with its holding company's, Kagiso Tiso Holdings, strategies of majority ownership in strategic assets and expansion into Africa.

Nazarene Khan appointed new TV channel manager responsible for Glow and [ED] TV channels on DStv and OpenView HD.

Nazarene Khan has been appointed to the position of TV channel manager at Kagiso Media and will henceforth be responsible for the Glow (DStv 167 / OVHD 108) and [ED] (DStv 190) TV channels on MultiChoice's DStv and Platco Digital's OpenView HD.

Nazarene Khan played a key role according to Kagiso Media in the conceptualisation, creation and start-up of Glow and has been the marketing manager of Glow since it launched in July 2013.

"Nazarene Khan will define each channel's target market, positioning, proposition, programming mix and on-air look and feel," says Kagiso media. She will also monitor audience reception of channels.

"Naz, brings with her experience from years working within the media landscape and we look forward to the collaboration within the group as well as the strengthening of current brands," says Mark Harris, Kagiso Media group CEO.

Trish Taylor appointed as new CEO of Urban Brew Studios from 26 January 2015.

Kagiso Media is appointing Trish Taylor as the new CEO of Urban Brew Studios from 26 January 2015.

Trish Taylor has currently been the general manager of Kagiso Media's East Coast Radio radio station.

"Trish Taylor will bring new energy and a strong culture of innovation t Urban Brew," says Omar Essack, Kagiso Media deputy CEO.

"I am passionate about media and this move provides a further extension of my career in a space I really enjoy," says Trish Taylor. "I've loved my time at East Coast Radio and through my new role I look forward to accelerating TV and radio synergies," says Trish Taylor.

Five new possible pay-TV services for South Africa, as the broadcasting regulator hands out 5 new provisional licences to pay-TV operators.

Possible new pay-TV competition is coming to South Africa with South Africa's broadcasting regulator which has granted five provisional licences for individual commercial subscription television services.

Pay for gay television, education television, local content for the lower and middle market, and club soccer matches from Southern Africa could be coming to South African pay-TV subscribers with provisional pay-TV licences granted by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to Close-T Broadcast Networks Holdings (CloseTV), Mindset Media Enterprises, Kagiso Media (Kagiso TV), Siyaya Free to Air and Mobile TV.

It remains to be seen whether any of the companies granted licences would be able to bring a successful pay-TV service to market in South Africa's second attempt to open up the country's pay-TV sector to more players since 2007.

Out of the previous round of pay-TV licences granted by Icasa to Telkom Media, On Digital Media (ODM), e.Sat and Walking on Water TV (WowTV), only the struggling On Digital Media (ODM) actually launched the TopTV, now StarSat, service which is in business rescue.

e.tv decided not to start a service, Telkom Media which became Super 5 Media collapsed and WowTV never got off the ground. 

The five companies who got provisional licences to start subscription television services in South Africa have three months to  respond to the regulator with various documents and proof that they're able to start pay-TV services before permanent licences will be granted.

The new companies all want in on South Africa's lucrative pay-TV market dominated by MultiChoice's DStv, M-Net's analogue subscription TV service, and ODM's StarSat while TV viewers and the industry are hamstrung by the government's ongoing shambolic delay to start digital terrestrial television (DTT) and the promise of more TV channels.

Close-T Broadcasting Network wants to show South African viewers pay for gay TV content in a service its calling CloseTV which includes a pay-per-view on-demand service.

Kagiso Media wants to start Kagiso TV with around 70 TV channels for a subscription fee of R240 per month and with channels heavily focused on local content driven by entertainment and news.

Siyaya TV with talk show host Dali Thambo as one of the investment backers, want to start its own local soccer league and broadcast those matches for a monhtly subscription fee of R70 with a PVR.

Mindset Media wants to broadcast educational content to public schools around the country. Mindset wants provinces to pay TV subscription fees per school. Mobile TV wants to start eight TV channels and four radio stations for mobile devices such as cellphones and tablets.

"Although the conditions imposed are specific to each of the five applicants, they generally relate to, among others, confirmation of equity ownership; funding requirements; further research; confirmation of local content; and programming content agreements," Icasa says in a statement announcing the provisional pay-TV licences.

The provisional licences are the result of a new set of hearings which the broadcasting regulator held in July 2013, following the new invitation to apply for subscription television licences in February 2012.

In February the broadcasting regulator announced that it is launching an investigation into subscription television in South Africa and the massive failure rate of licensed companies to start successful pay-TV operations in the country.

Glow TV on OpenView HD a new Indian TV channel from Kagiso Media, will try to reach South Africa's 1,3 million Indian viewers.

While Saffron TV from the Times Media group on MultiChoice's DStv couldn't cut it and closed down at the end of August, Glow TV has now started on Platco Digital's OpenView HD (OVHD) free-to-air satellite TV platform in South Africa targeting Indian viewers.

Glow TV will try to reach and cater to South Africa's growing Indian population of 1,3 million people.

Glow TV is a partnership between Kagiso Media and Nolava Television. Glow TV broadcasts programming sourced from India, Brazil and the United States and plans to introduce South African TV content on the channel from March 2014 which will be produced by Kagiso Media majority-owned subsidiary, Urban Brew Studios.

"Our primary target market is the South African Indian audience between the ages of 20 and 45 years," says Yusuf Nabee, Glow TV channel head. "We believe that our content has great crossover appeal and will attract audiences across the South African market."

Glow TV broadcasts show such as The Kumars at No 42, and Koffee with Karan, a talk show with celebrity guests and a cooking show with chef Sanjeev Kapoor.

"We will look at content in all languages - our main criteria are compelling entertainment and high production values. Glow is a cleverly tailored offering that brings comedy, drama, movies, reality, food and game shows, in one easy-to-access, free-to-air offering," says Yusuf Nabee.

English subtitles will be provided where programming is broadcast in other languages.

"We've created very successful African language television channels for our partners, but this is the first time we're making an investment in creating our own channel," says Mark Harris, Kagiso Media CEO.

Urban Brew Studios currently packages the DUmisa and One Gospel TV channels for MultiChoice's DStv and manages the community TV channels; Soweto TV, Bay TV and 1KZN on behalf of the communities which hold the licenses.

Kagiso Media wants to start an 'affordable' pay-TV service in South Africa heavily focused on local content driven by entertainment and news.

Kagiso Media (KGM) wants the South African broadcasting regulator to grant it a pay-TV broadcasting license to operate an "affordable" pay-TV service costing R240 a month for which it wants to become "the leading provider of pay-TV services to low-income households in South Africa".

Kagiso TV's pay-TV offering in South Africa would be heavily focused on providing subscribers local entertainment, local news and educational programmes.

Kagiso TV, Close-T Broadcast Network Holdings, Siyaya Free to Air, Mindset Media Enterprises,  and Mobile TV have all applied for new pay-TV licences in South Africa with the aim of starting brand-new subscription services in the country and is this week presenting their applications and plans before the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

Should it receive a subscription TV licence in South Africa, Kagiso TV plans to have subscribers choose their own TV channels from a selection of available TV channels to build their own bouquet and is highly focused on providing South African pay-TV subscribes with local content.

KGM for instance owns Urban Brew Studios which specialises in TV broadcasting and is also involved in TV content and TV channel creation, as well as several radio stations across South Africa which it says proves its experience and track-record in broadcasting.

Icasa's previous round of licensing for pay-TV operators in South Africa saw Telkom Media, On Digital Media, WOWtv and eSat apply. All besides ODM failed to launch a service and ODM's TopTV which eventually launched is now in business rescue.

Existing broadcasters and wannabe broadcasters square off over digital television competition in South Africa for when DTT starts.

Existing South African broadcasters saying its madness to licence and introduce new TV broadcasters when digital terrestrial television (DTT) finally one day start in South Africa, are squaring off against wannabe broadcasters and companies who want to start new TV broadcasting channels as well as pay-TV services during the same time.

Some companies like Kagiso Media, MSG Afrika which recently made a failed bid for TopTV, and Primedia have been mulling and are itching to start TV services in South Africa.

They want to add to the flurry of channels when existing broadcasters like pay-TV broadcaster M-Net, the public broadcaster SABC, and the commercial free-to-air broadcaster e.tv each expand their respective TV channel line-ups to about 8 TV channels or more when DTT finally launches in South Africa.

Public hearings got underway at South Africa's broadcasting regulator which is looking into specifically the possible introduction of further TV competition within the South African television industry and the shape and form it should take, as well as diversity in TV broadcasting, when DTT - a process long-delayed in South Africa - finally starts in this country.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) gave the South African public less than 16 hours notice about the public hearings which was held yesterday and where broadcasters such as the SABC and e.tv as well as new possible players Kagiso Media took widely differing stances on whether new entrants should be allowed when DTT starts.

e.tv complained that existing broadcasters have been allocated to little multiplex spectrum making it almost impossible for a broadcaster such as e.tv to offer high definition (HD) channels.

e.tv, similar to the SABC and M-Net, has each been allocated a limited portion of spectrum which allows for a certain number of new TV channels. An HD channel or more than one HD channel will dramatically lessen the total overall number of TV channels a broadcaster can offer since it gobbles up more spectrum.

e.tv complained about the ongoing delays of the start of DTT and the switch-over process, saying it is making it more difficult for e.tv to grow TV audiences and that the delay is causing MultiChoice which runs the DStv satellite pay-TV platform to grow its subscriber base and entrench itself further.

The SABC told Icasa that the start of DTT is definitely not the time to licence new additional TV channels since existing broadcasters will already have a very difficult time to do the costly switch from analogue to digital broadcasting with operating costs which will soar running new channels and securing content, as audience fragmentation grows due to the availability of more TV channels.

The SABC asked Icasa to first do a regulatory impact study of what the result will be for South Africa's TV industry if new broadcasters are to be licensed at the same time as DTT starting. The SABC said new TV competition must be timed correctly and that the digital migration period is not the right time to start new TV services in the country.

Kagiso Media told Icasa that the longer the introduction of DTT is delayed and if new TV competition is not introduced, new TV broadcaster entrants into South Africa's TV industry are less and less likely to succeed, citing the problems and struggles with On Digital Media (ODM) and its TopTV service which is currently in business rescue.

Kagiso Media also told Icasa that measures should be put in place to give new TV entrants a chance to get access to premium TV content, citing TopTV's failure to access sport content.

Kagiso Media which wants to start both free-to-air commercial TV channels as well as a pay-TV service similar to M-Net, also wants new digital terrestrial pay-TV services to get "open time" broadcasting windows where their signals can be broadcast unencoded so that potential subscribers can see the content. Kagiso Media told Icasa this will help new pay-TV broadcasters in South Africa to see what new TV services exist.