Opposition to digital TV policy grows

29 Apr 2015

Pressure group the National Association of Electronic Manufacturers (Namec) has joined e.tv's bid to have major elements of the digital migration policy set aside. This move could result in serious corruption allegations against project stakeholders being tested in court.

Image via 123RF

Namec would soon "help shed more light and insight" on the court action, the group said yesterday. Namec has recently accused government officials and pay-TV channel MultiChoice of corruption.

The digital policy has taken years to formulate. It regulates the migration to digital signal from analogue, which after 15 June will not be internationally protected.

The joint action between Namec and e.tv will, if successful, put a damper on digital migration and further delay the manufacturing of set-top boxes.

"We believe that the change of the original policy will disadvantage the poor and widen the digital divide within our society," Adil Nchabeleng, secretary-general of Namec, said yesterday.

He said the government "has the responsibility to revitalise the ailing electronics manufacturing sector", and that the "scrapping of the encryption policy will disadvantage the sector".

Last week e.tv said in its court papers that Communications Minister Faith Muthambi's policy contradicted a previous court judgment in 2012, which found that it was unlawful for the minister to make decisions on technical issues that affect free-to-air broadcasters.

E.tv also said the government had previously told broadcasters they could decide themselves whether to encrypt content. But the gazetted policy states the opposite.

Source: Business Day

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