South Africa / Kagiso seeks more time for digital TV application

South Africa / Kagiso seeks more time for digital TV application

PRETORIA, May 4, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ --

Kagiso Media has applied to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for an extension of the deadline for aspirant providers of digital TV signal to mobile handsets to apply for a license. Meanwhile, the Mobile TV Consortium is preparing to take ICASA to court next week to halt the awarding of the licenses.

A local media, BusinessDay, reported on 30 April 2010, that the consortium lodged an application for an urgent interdict in the South Gauteng High Court on 28 April 2010, asking that ICASA scrap the present application process and go back to the drawing board on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and illegal, and biased towards those with existing broadcast service licenses.

ICASA is believed to be under pressure to select a new digital mobile TV provider before the Soccer World Cup because of indications given to FIFA during the bidding process that this service would be ready.

A court ruling would scupper ICASA's plans, which are already on a tight timeline.

The documents lodged by Mobile TV Consortium protest against the deadline on 7 May 2010, and ask the court to halt the application until the process has been reviewed.

The consortium believes the present application process and the regulations contravene a number of laws including the constitution, the Electronic Communications Act, and the Media Development and Diversity Act.

Consortium chairman Mothobi Mutloatse said on 29 April 2010 the present deadline and regulations were biased towards existing TV broadcast service license holders, excluding new entrants from the broadcast space and limiting the competition.

Meanwhile, Mike Siluma, head of corporate regulatory affairs at Kagiso Media, confirmed on 29 April 2010 the company had sent a letter last week to ICASA saying that the 7 May 2010 deadline was too tight and asking for clarity on the regulations.

Kagiso Media, which has interests in radio stations such as Jacaranda FM and Durban's East Coast Radio, and holds 47,5% of radio airtime sales firm Radmark, has asked ICASA to explain the regulations, which state that only "broadcast service license holders" can apply.

The company wants to know whether it, as a radio broadcaster, is entitled to apply for a mobile TV broadcast license.

Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

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