MultiChoice applies for licence

"This is a very significant development for our business and we have been working hard to ensure that we are ready to meet the submission deadline", says MultiChoice South Africa CEO, Nolo Letele.

Before the legislative changes in 1999, MultiChoice and other satellite broadcasting services were not required to hold a broadcasting licence. That changed in 1999, with the new Broadcasting Act requiring all broadcasters, including satellite services to have a licence.

This new law, however, recognised that there already existing satellite services like MultiChoice's DStv and Sentech's Vivid, and that these needed time to prepare for their licensing process. The law gave these services permission to continue operating until such time as ICASA was in a position to complete the regulatory and licensing framework for satellite broadcasters.

ICASA has now completed this framework, putting MultiChoice in the position to apply for its broadcast license.

Says Letele, "We have come a long way and it has been an exciting but challenging journey. We launched with a handful of channels, and today MultiChoice broadcasts over 50 video and 60 audio channels 24 hours a day via our numerous bouquets. We have close to 700 employees in South Africa and have created employment for many others in, for example, the previously nonexistent decoder manufacturing industry."

Multichoice has been in business more than ten years, pioneering digital satellite television in Africa and setting up content provision and subscriber management services, initially with only 2344 subscribers, from scratch. Today, the company has over one million customers.

MultiChoice's pay-TV expertise and track record for technological innovation include Interactive TV, Dual View, DStv PVR and Mobile TV (DVB-H).

"The landscape will change and we expect to see new players in this market. As a business we support and welcome competition," concludes Letele.