South Africa’s newest entrant in the local television sector, Platco Digital’s OpenView
HD free-to-air satellite platform, which began broadcasting on 15 October, is carrying
the three SABC channels without the SABC’s permission.
When asked to comment on the matter, SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said:
“This matter is now before the courts and is sub-judice, therefore the SABC cannot
comment on the issue.’
On 18 September, when OpenView HD was introduced to the media, Platco Digital
stated that it would carry the three SABC channels, which immediately prompted the
SABC to categorically refute that its channels would be carried on OpenView HD as
there was no agreement to that effect. Platco Digital’s response was that any attempt
to prevent Platco from carrying the SABC channels would be “unlawful’.
It’s worth noting that regulator ICASA’s “Must Carry’ Regulations of 2008 only apply to
subscription services and not, as in OpenView HD’s case, to FTA services.
