Icasa to address competition in pay-TV market

Last week, the regulator said it had received 18 submissions by the December deadline (including a 600-pager from MultiChoice) and that all were interested in presenting. The hearings for oral presentations will be held from 7-11 May in Sandton.

In August last year Icasa published a discussion document on its inquiry into subscription TV broadcasting services, to determine whether it needs to address any competition issues in the sector and potentially impose new pro-competitive conditions on relevant licensees.

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BusinessTech reported that in the document “the regulator said it was concerned about the uncompetitive nature in which paid-for television subscriptions had first-access to certain shows, its exclusive rights to sporting events (cricket, rugby and soccer) and the high barriers of entry into the paid-for space and whether certain companies have a monopoly”.

Icasa will publish a final document on the issue following the consultation process, after which it will consider introducing new regulations.