Super 5 Media's fate decided tomorrow by Icasa as the struggling wannabe pay TV operator keeps begging for extensions.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) will tomorrow decide the fate of Super 5 Media which received a license in 2007 to start a pay TV service in South Africa but failed to do so and instead kept asking for further extensions from the authority.

The issue will come to a head tomorrow when Icasa will decide on the fate of Super5Media (formerly Telkom Media which sold their stake to Schenzhen Media) which was once seen as the strongest applicant to start a new pay TV service in South Africa.

Icasa is not going to have any further public hearings on the matter of Super 5 Media's application extensions, with insiders within the authority indicating that Super 5 Media's time - and the regulator's patience - has finally all but run out. Super 5 Media kept asking for - and got - numerous extensions after its abysmal failure to start despite several promises - and then further extensions after the implosion of the Centurion based company in July 2010.

SUPER SHADY. Icasa in an unbelievable move grants faltering Super 5 Media its FOURTH license extension for a pay TV service.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has decided to grant yet another and highly irregular extension to the severly struggling Super 5 Media to try and start a satellite pay TV service in South Africa.

While Icasa is not licensing new satellite pay TV entrants or giving them the opportunity to possibly enter the market, the authority - beset by its own administration and management issues - keeps granting extensions to the beleaguered Super 5 Media (owned by Shenzhen Media SA) to try and come up with a service. The new extension, after Super 5 Media ran out of time at the end of February after their third Icasa license extension, is giving Super 5 Media yet another unbelievable chance. Super 5 Media now gets time until August 2011 to start a service.

Super 5 Media (then called Telkom Media) was awarded a pay TV licence in September 2007 along with On Digital Media (ODM), Walking on Water (Wow) and e.Sat. While ODM started TopTV and e.Sat is focusing on supplying channels to other operators, Super 5 Media could in more than 3 years not come up with any viable commercial service. Super 5 Media's administration and daily operations completely imploded in Augustu last year when the company's office shuttered and staff got fired. Yet Super 5 Media got yet another (third) extension from Icasa to start a service by the end of February 2011.

Last month a Super5Media executive whom I spoke to in February about the possible new license extension called ''the process very sensitive. We don't want anything to be written about now, after all the damage of last year.''

Icasa only says it ''received a request for an extension [from Super 5 Media] to start its broadcasts. Council deliberated on the matter and agreed to grant the extension with certain conditions.'' Icasa, although a public authority and presiding over a public issue such as the issuing of pay TV licensees, isn't specifying what these conditions are for continuously agreeing to extend the faltering and ''living-dead'' Super 5 Media's requests to try and start some kind of a pay TV commercial service.

ALSO READ: Super 5 Media gets yet another surprising license extension from Icasa after it collapsed and now has until Feb 2011 to start a pay TV service.
ALSO READ: August 2010: Super 5 Media completely collapses: ''Everybody's running away from this thing.''

BREAKING. Surprising 6 month extension granted for wannabe pay TV service Super 5 Media supposed to lose its licence at the end of August.

You're reading it here first.

It's nothing more than basically an empty shell at this point but I can exclusively break the news that the wannabee pay TV operator Super 5 Media has received a six month extension to start a pay TV service in South Africa.

Super 5 Media, formerly Telkom Media before it was sold to Shenzhen Media SA, was supposed to lose its licence at the end of August after failing for years to start a viable subscription television service in South Africa. But I can tell you first that the company that basically imploded earlier last month after burning through more than half a billion rand since it started, has received a very surprising six month extension from the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

Super 5 Media now has until the end of February 2011 to start a pay TV service. Icasa simply tells me that ''because of the reasons stated'' by Super 5 Media, ''Icasa resolved to grant the company a six month extension''.

ALSO READ: Super 5 Media self-destructs.
ALSO READ: Super 5 Media's ''complete state of collapse''.

BREAKING. DStv starts TV broadcasts through the internet, MultiChoice now first with IPTV in South Africa.

MultiChoice just announced that its DStv satellite pay TV platform is ready to start the roll-out of ts TV broadcast over the internet to commercial establishments.

It means that hotels, shopping malls and office blocks will now be able to get and watch DStv TV channels through the internet. It's called digital video broadcast (DVB) over internet protocol (IP) and will be extended to include gated residential communities and residential apartments later during the year.

DStv TV channels are delivered through a closed multicast internet protocol (IP) network, which is then split up and the signal then send through a fibre optic system to individual DStv IP decoders. ''Commercial customers now have access to a range of services that were previously restricted by bandwidth,'' says Gerdus van Eeden, chief technology officer at MultiChoice. ''We're proud to launch DStv into the world of IPTV.''

MultiChoice's IPTV offering comes with both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) TV viewing options, surround sound, multiple languages, an 8 day electronic program guide (EPG) and parental control. MultiChoice has now pipped competitors to the post regarding IPTV, like the languishing Super5Media (previously Telkom Media) who's still non-existent IPTV pay TV offering would have been South Africa's first.

BREAKING. On Digital Media (ODM) urgent court interdict against Super 5 Media dismissed.

The urgent interdict that On Digital Media (ODM) has brought against Super 5 Media which you can read about HERE has been dismissed by the South Gauteng High Court.

ODM which wants to start its satellite pay TV service in April, brought an urgent court interdict against competitor Super 5 Media (formerly Telkom Media), because ODM claimed that Super 5 Media's change in shareholder agreement violated what Super 5 Media originally told the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) when the pay TV licence presentations took place.

Super 5 Media can now continue working on its pay TV platform.

BREAKING. On Digital Media (ODM) and Super5Media in court on 2 Feb.

You're reading it here first.

I wrote last week RIGHT HERE about On Digital Media's court interdict against Super5Media and now I can be first to tell you that the case will be heard in court for the first time on Tuesday, 2 February in the South Gauteng High Court.

On Digital Media (ODM) as a pay TV operator planning a May launch in South Africa, has sought an urgent interdict against Super5Media. ODM believes Super5Media has circumvented the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) in terms of the shareholder's composition and original licence requirements when Telkom Media (now Super5Media) was sold to Shenzhen and didn't go through/past Icasa approval first.

''Super5Media asked for a one week postponement, which ODM reluctantly acceded to,'' Dimitri Martinis, ODM's head of regulatory affairs told me earlier today.

BREAKING. Super5Media opposes On Digital Media's ''frivolous and opportunistic'' court interdict.

You're reading it here first.

I just got a response from Super5Media regarding the urgent interdict that On Digital Media (ODM) has brought against the pay TV operator, neither of whom have started broadcasting yet after being awarded pay TV licences by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

Tian du Pisanie, Super5Media director says ''Super5Media has opposed this frivolous and opportunistic application. We will reserve any further comments until the court has ruled.''

BREAKING. On Digital Media: Due process not followed in Icasa's pay TV licence for Super5Media.

I just got reaction from On Digital Media (ODM) on the urgent court interdict that On Digital Media has brought against Super5Media. I just spoke to Dimitri Martinis, head of regulatory affairs at On Digital Media to find out why On Digital Media has lodged the interdict.

''Essentially it is an application to have the decisions by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) reviewed to amend or issue Telkom Media - now Super5Media - with a licence because we believe that due process was not followed, says Dimitris Martinis. ''They've basically created uncertainty in the sector because they're not following their own rules.''

BREAKING. Pay TV operators fighting! On Digital Media taking Super5Media to court.

On Digital Media (ODM) has brought an urgent interdict in the South Gauteng High Court.

An industry insider told me moments ago that the looming battle between the 2 South African pay TV operators - neither who have actually started broadcasting yet - most probably has to do with the fact that Super5Media got it's pay TV operator licence by taking it over from Telkom Media, and did not submit it's new shareholder and sale agreement to The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

''ODM is likely unhappy that Super5Media has never shown their sale agreement and shareholders breakdown to Icasa. Super5Media is also the only pay TV operator who got both an IPTV and satellite licence. ODM in all likelihood wants to block Super5Media from proceeding and make them go through a new rigorous application procedure just like they had to go through,'' my source told me.

I have put in calls and enquiries to both ODM as well as Super5Media, as soon as I have more, I'll have information more here.

Both ODM and Super5Media are still very ill equipped to dealing with the press in my opinion.
On Digital Media (ODM) is busy putting together a department to handle media enquiries but has no specific publicity people yet, while Super5Media has now retrenched even their PR person  - and also don't even list contact details on their website. At least Super5Media has a website - ODM's website which used to have information, has been DOWN FOR MONTHS with just the words ''website down for maintenance''.

TOLDYA! Solly Mokoetle the SABC's new group CEO.

 On 25 November I was first with the news that Solly Mokoetle is probably going to be the new group CEO of the SABC. The SABC has now finally confirmed this. The SABC's interim board has appointed Solly Mokoetle in the position and he will start officially from January 2010. Solly replaces Gab Mampone.

Solly was chief content officer at Super5Media who wants to start a satellite TV platform in 2010.

The SABC interime board chairperson, Irene Charnley says Solly Mokoetle was ''selected as a suitable candidate following vigrous and necessary processes'' and that he has been working at the SABC for 12 years.

What the SABC is NOT saying, is that Solly Mokoetle had to be escorted OUT of the SABC when he refused to vacate his office in December 2006 when he didn't want to leave after his contract wasn't renewed at the end of December 2006.

RUMOUR! Is Solly the SABC's new CEO?

You're reading it here first. Is Solly Mokoetle going to be the new CEO of the SABC?

That is what the breathless rumour mongers are telling me. The biz is abuzz with appetizing stories that Solly, a former SABC executive, might soon be back at the public broadcaster.

Solly was chief operating officer at the SABC until 2006, when he left to go and work at Telkom Media (now Super5Media).

Solly is currently the chief content officer at Super5Media.

BREAKING. Super5Media still ready to launch 'in the first half of 2010' with local content.

You're reading it here first. I thought a little update might be good on the struggling competitors in South Africa's pay TV market.

''The company plans to launch services in the first half of 2010,'' Chris van Zyl of Super5Media tells me. And Super5Media will have LOCAL CONTENT on its satellite TV bouquet.

Super5Media is the new name of Telkom Media. Telkom sold its shares in Telkom Media to the Chinese owned Shenzhen Media, so the name had to change.

Super5Media is now owned as follows:
75% - Shenzhen Media
15% - VideoVision Home Entertainment (Anant Singh)
5% - MSG Afrika Investments (Given Mkhari)
5% -WDB Group.


''In terms of the shareholding, we have met all Icasa's requirements regarding the notification of the sale and transfer of shares in terms of a sales agreement between Telkom and Shenzhen Media SA. The company is of the opinion that it has complied with all regulations in terms of the transaction and therefore has a licence to broadcast.''

On Super5Media's new website the pay TV operator says it will target South Africa's ''rapidly growing middle class''.

''The satellite pay-TV offering will bring together a mix of local and international content.''


The pay TV operator plans channels and content on those channels that will include entertainment, sport, movies, news, and docu-entertainment.

All of these will include local content.