DStv complains to ICASA over Sports proposals
May 31, 2019
By Chris Forrester
South Africa’s Multichoice, which owns pay-TV operator DStv and controls the SuperSport cluster of channels, has filed a suit in the nation’s High Court against media regulator ICASA.
The writ argues that Multichoice could go out of business if ICASA’s proposed regulation over Sports rights goes ahead. Multichoice asks the Court to order ICASA to provide the evidence and research that led to ICASA’s findings published in April.
ICASA is currently holding public hearings (a “consultation process”) across the nation on its draft Broadcasting Services Regulations which were published back in December 2018.
“The review of existing regulations is common within the regulatory environment, and this process is no exception. As developments happen and new information come to the fore, ICASA is required to re-look at the relevance of its existing regulations and where necessary initiate a process for the review of such regulations,” the authority said in a statement ahead of the public hearings.”
ICASA added: “This review is intended to identify and list national sporting events while ensuring that subscription broadcasting service licensees do not acquire exclusive rights that prevent or hinder the free-to-air broadcasting of national sporting events, in accordance with … the Electronic Communications Act.”