The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has approved
the application for the transfer of an Individual Electronic Communications Network
Service (I-ECNS) licence from On Digital Media (ODM) to StarTimes Media (South
Africa) Proprietary Limited.
In October 2012, ODM filed for a business rescue under section 129 of the new
Companies Act, which allows companies to restructure and reorganise in order to
return to a state of financial stability. StarTimes acquired 20% share in ownership
in 2013, resulting in TopTV being rebranded as StarSat. While the network licence
transfer was opposed by MultiChoice and e.tv, according to a report by Business Day Live, ODM said it would allow the
company to raise much needed capital and see the implementation of its business
rescue process.
ICASA approved the application as it met the applicable regulatory requirements.
The application was published for public comments, subsequent to which a public
hearing was held on 6 August 2015. Following this process and the analysis of all
relevant information, ICASA approved the application.
ICASA believes that the decision is in the public interest and will promote
competition, investment and consumer choice in the broadcasting sector.
