South Africa

ICASA searches for new chair as Mohlalogo gets 20-year jail term

South African media and telecom regulator ICASA is looking for a new acting chairman following the sentencing of incumbent Rubben Mohlaloga for fraud. Communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, acting on a resolution of the country’s national assembly, this week removed Mohlaloga from office. He had already been suspended on March 15 following a resolution of the […]

PCCW launches Viu in South Africa

PCCW has launched Viu in South Africa, marking the over-the-top service’s seventeenth country launch. Viu South Africa is available as a freemium service and offers local and regional content from partners Vodacom, SABC and Etv, alongside Viu originals. “We are excited to be bringing a truly ‘freemium’ video streaming service anchored on local content to […]

MultiChoice lists on Johannesburg exchange

Naspers-backed MultiChoice Group’s shares rose respectably yesterday after the company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The new listed company includes MultiChoice South Africa, MultiChoice Africa Holdings, SVOD outfit Showmax, digital platform security provider Irdeto, and all their subsidiaries and affiliates. However, a slight shadow was cast over the listing by regulator Icasa, which expressed […]

Netflix bags second South African series

Netflix has signed a deal for its second South African series, teen-led drama Blood & Water, continuing its investment in the African region. The series, directed by Nosipho Dumisa, is expected to launch globally on the platform in 2020. Blood & Water will feature an up-and-coming South African cast and be filmed later this year. It follows […]

Naspers to spin off MultiChoice at end of February

South African conglomerate Naspers is to move ahead with its spin-off of pay TV group MultiChoice on February 27, giving Naspers shareholders a direct stake in the pay TV outfit and listing the company on the Johannesburg stock exchange. In its statement ahead of the listing on the Johannesburg stock exchange, Naspers said that it […]

Naspers names new MultiChoice management team

South African conglomerate Naspers has named a new leadership team for soon-to-be spun-off pay TV arm MultiChoice under a new CEO, Calvo Mawela. Mawela will take over as CEO of the new group, which encompasses MultiChoice South Africa, MultiChoice Africa, OTT TV arm Showmax Africa and content security specialist Irdeto, from November 1. He is […]

South Africa adopts new market-driven strategy for 2020 digital switchover

The long-delayed digital switchover in South Africa will now take place by July 2020 at the latest following the implementation of a “revised delivery model”, according to communications minister Nomvula Mokonyane. Speaking at a media briefing on DSO alongside Free State premier Sis Ntombela, Mokonyane said that the government was committed to getting the project […]

Naspers to spin off MultiChoice

South African conglomerate Naspers is to spin off Africa’s leading pay TV operator MultiChoice as part of a move designed in part to assuage investor concerns about its own share price. Naspers plans to float MultiChoice on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and simultaneously unbundle the shares in the business to its shareholders. The new company, […]

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 […]

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