SABC

‘Drowning in debt’ SABC on brink of collapse

The South African Broadcasting Company (SABC) is “drowning in debt” and requires a Rand 3.2 billion (€1.9bn) injection from the government in order to avoid a shutdown. To make matters worse, the organisation says that it might not be able to pay employee salaries for the month of June. Speaking with the Sunday Times, SABC […]

South African minister slams SABC cut-back plans

South African communications minister Nomvula Mokonyane has pushed back against plans by public broadcaster SABC to engage in concerted cost-cutting to turn its fortunes around. Mokonyane said that SABC was continuing to insist on a programme of intensive cost cutting alone rather than a more comprehensive approach to deal with its precarious finances. She said […]

South Africa government intervenes in SABC football dispute

Negotiations between South African national broadcaster SABC and the country’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) over broadcast fees broke down this week, leading to the intervention of government ministers to ensure that South African football continues to be aired on radio as well as TV. The SABC announced yesterday that it would not be able to […]

South African minister moves forward on digital switchover

South Africa’s minister of communications Nomvula Mokonyane has named the members of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Advisory Council that will advise her on matters relating to digital switchover and the development of digital-terrestrial TV. The naming of council members follows the appointment of Aldred Dreyer as project director for the DTT Programme Management Office (PMO). […]

SABC seeks changes to enable retransmission fees

South African public broadcaster SABC has called on the country’s media regulator ICASA to conduct an urgent review of must-carry obligations in a bid to secure retransmission fees for its channels. The broadcaster has called on ICASA to revie regualtions that allow Multichoice and other subscription broadcasters to carry SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 for free. […]

South African minister faces grilling over SABC crisis

South African communications minister Faith Muthambi is to face parliamentarians today amid criticism of her lack of action over a crisis enveloping state broadcasters SABC. The hearing follows a series of controversial editorial decisions by SABC including the alleged censorship of violent protests and demands from broadcasting regulator Icasa that the banning of coverage of […]

SABC boss resigns, criticises ‘corrosive’ broadcaster

The acting head of the SABC, Jimi Matthews, has resigned, saying there is a “corrosive atmosphere” at the South African public broadcaster. The SABC confirmed Matthews’ departure, noting his resignation, tendered on Monday, was effective immediately. Having been head of news at the broadcaster, he became acting CEO in the wake of Frans Matlala being suspended […]

South Africa’s Siyaya TV accuses SABC of lying about football rights

A row has broken out in South Africa between state broadcaster SABC and pay TV player Siyaya TV over South African Football Association rights, according to reports.  Siyaya TV has accused the state broadcaster of lying over claims that it had signed a three-year deal for rights to broadcast the domestic matches of the national […]

South Africa’s SABC launches international news channel

South African public broadcaster has launched its news channel internationally on the Multichoice pay TV platform.  SABC News will be available to around 50 countries in Africa. Multichoice said that the channel would be particularly valuable for the hundreds of thousands of expatriate South Africans who live in other parts of the continent. SABC News […]

South African pay TV operator Siyaya secures football deal

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has reportedly sold rights to matches of the country’s national team to pay TV licence holder Siyaya TV. The deal, which covers rights to matches of the national team, junior teams, the national women’s team and the ABC Motsepe League, includes TV and radio broadcasts and mobile and internet […]

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