BREAKING. US cable: 'Nigerian youth today don't know who Mickey Mouse is due to exclusive rights given to MultiChoice.' - WikiLeaks

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In another sensitive cable that's part of the new batch of tens of thousands of US diplomatic cables released by the whistleblower site WikiLeaks, the American consulate in Lagos - talking about the booming satellite television market in Nigeria in 2009 - notes that ''MultiChoice's experience across Africa was that viewers, once hooked on satellite television, rarely cancel their subscription in response to an economic slowdown, suggesting that entertainment is seen as more than simply a luxury good.''

The 2009 US cable mentions MultiChoice Nigeria managing director Joseph Hundah saying that MultiChoice subscriptions had grown 300% over the last three years ''and now totals some 370 000 prepaid accounts'' and that MultiChoice would continue to depend on the top end of the market, but he acknowledged that less expensive competitors had exposed a new layer in the consumer market that his firm was eager to target.''

The US cable mentions the pay TV competitor, HiTV saying that ''Nigerians had an affinity for American television programs but noted that the decision years ago by American firms to sign exclusive pan-African distribution rights with MultiChoice South Africa precluded HiTV and other Nigerian satellite companies from broadcasting popular programs'' and that ''these contracts were signed at a time when MultiChoice was virutally the only satellite provider in Africa.''

The cable says ''Nigerian youths today, for instance often did not know who Mickey Mouse was due to exclusive rights for Disney products given to the upmarket MultiChoice.''

''Discovery Channel had created a separate content line to distribute to HiTV and other channels on a non-exclusive basis while still complying with its MultiChoice contract'' - a model that HiTV ''was encouraging other American firms to adopt.''

Both HiTV and MultiChoice Nigeria noted plans to expands service throughout northern Nigeria where they admitted penetration to date had been weak. The cable summarises about the Nigerian satellite TV market that ''while this market is very young, it looks promising for American distributors who can deliver popular programming.''

ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks: US cable - ''South African telecommunication liberalization moving at a snail's pace''; MultiChoice has ''strong hold'' on exclusive content rights.
ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks: America keeps a close eye on the ''sad state of the SABC'': ''State media giant sinks into financial quagmire.''
ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks: US cable: ''South African press relishes its role as a watchdog'' although there's ''a lack of depth in reporting.''

US cable: 'SA's telecommunication liberalization moving at a snail's pace', MultiChoice has 'strong hold' on content rights. - WikiLeaks

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In a sensitive cable that's part of the new batch of tens of thousands of US diplomatic cables released by the whistleblower site WikiLeaks, the US embassy in Pretoria in 2008 says that South Africa's ''telecommunication liberalization [is] moving at a snail's pace'' and that MultiChoice has a ''strong hold'' regarding exclusive content rights.

The sensitive cable discussing the the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and the telecommunications market in South Africa, says ''Icasa wants to increase competition in satellite broadcasting but is also concerned about protecting public broadcasting. Although Icasa has made some strides in liberalizing the South African telecommunication market, market entry is still difficult for smaller service providers.''

Regarding the satellite platform MultiChoice the cable says ''MultiChoice has a strong hold on the market through its existing exclusivity rights. MultiChoice has made statement in the press that 'any attempt to undermine the principle of exclusivity would lead to less investment, lower quality, and less content''.

The sensitive cable from 2008 comments: ''Icasa has made some strides in liberalizing the South African telecommunication market; however, lots of obstacles exist for further progress. Established entities such as Telkom and MultiChoice secured market share under prior monopoly regimes, which makes it difficult for new entrants to offer competitive services.''

''A number of smaller mobile service providers have entered the market, but most have yet to turn a profit. Additionally, Icasa has been slow in converting licenses and establishing regulatory frameworks for free-to-air broadcasting and satellite operations that would increase competition.''

ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks: US cable - ''Nigerian youths today don't know who Mickey Mouse is due to exclusive rights given to MultiChoice.''
ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks: America keeps a close eye on the ''sad state of the SABC'': ''State media giant sinks into a financial quagmire''.
ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks: US Cable - ''The South African press relishes its role as a watchdog,'' although there's ''a lack of depth in reporting''.

BREAKING. America keeps a close eye on the 'sad state of the SABC': 'State media giant sinks into financial quagmire.' - WikiLeaks

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America has been keeping a close eye on the beleaguered South African public broadcaster with a cable sent from the US Pretoria Embassy in 2009 summarizing how the SABC is ''drowning in the red'' and detailing the ''culture of infighting'' at the struggling broadcaster.

In one of the tens of thousands of newly-released, confidential US diplomatic cables in the fresh batch of cables made available by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks, the embassy in 2009 predicts ''a clean sweep for a pro-Zuma board and new executive management at the SABC'' in a cable entitled ''State media giant sinks into financial quagmire''.

The cable from March 2009 says the SABC has ''been engulfed in a battle for political control between supporters of the former South African president Thabo Mbeki and the new ANC leadership loyal to Jacob Zuma. The SABC has a long history as a government mouthpiece, dating back to the apartheid era. Despite efforts to recreate itself as a true 'public' broadcaster after 1994, it gradually fell back into its previous role of state broadcaster and regime supporter. The internal infighting and political manipulation taking place currently are playing out very publicly in non-state print and broadcast media.''

In another newly released cable from June 2008, marked as ''sensitive'' and also from the Pretoria Embassy, the SABC again pops up, referring to the ''current sad state of the SABC''.

''Those within the organization who continue the push for editorial independence are fewer and fewer, and they are marginalized,'' says the cable. The cable that mentions multiple names, goes into incredible detail regarding infighting within the SABC board at the time as well as ''embarrassing revelations about the inner workings of the SABC and its disarray''.

The cable from 2008 ends with, ''Given the nature of ANC politics and the apparent lack of broad public interest and support for major changes in the public broadcaster, real change is unlikely in the foreseeable future.''


ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks: US cable - ''The South African press relishes its role as a watchdog'' although there's a ''lack of depth in reporting''.
ALSO READ: New Wikileaks: US cable - ''South Africa's telecommunication liberalization moving at a snail's pace,'' MultiChoice has ''strong hold'' on exclusive content rights.
ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks: US cable - ''Nigerian youths today don't know who Mickey Mouse is due to exclusive rights being given to MultiChoice.''

BREAKING. US cable: 'The South African press relishes its role as a watchdog' although there's a 'lack of depth in reporting' - WikiLeaks

You're reading it here first.

What does America really think of the South African press?

''The South African press is diverse, politically engaged and relished its role as a watchdog. It has been referred to by numerous South African analysts as the real political opposition,'' comments a confidential US diplomatic cable in April 2009 from the US Embassy in Pretoria – one in the new batch of the tens of thousands of cables that has been released by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

Looking at the 2009 elections in South Africa and the South African press, the diplomatic cable says South African media ''is largely focused on personalities, scandals and events in South African politics, rather than policies, issues and initiatives.''

The cable says ''there is a lack of depth and diversity in reporting due in large part to young, poorly-trained journalists, who must cover a wide array of issues. Additionally, the South Africa media is experiencing the same economic hardship as American media.''

The cable quotes William Bird from Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), noting, ''The media need to realize that part of their agenda as South Africans that enjoy constitutional guarantees to freedom of expression, is that [the media] has a duty and responsibility to devote time and space to reporting issues that enable citizen participation.''

ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks US cable: America keeps a close eye on the ''sad state of the SABC'': ''State media giant sinks into financial quagmire.''
ALSO READ: New Wikileaks US cable: ''South Africa's telecommunications liberalization moving at a snail's pace,'' MultiChoice has ''strong hold'' on exclusive content rights.
ALSO READ: New WikiLeaks US cable: ''Nigerian youths today don't know who Mickey Mouse is due to exclusive content rights given to MultiChoice.''