Icasa to address competition in pay-TV market
NEWSWATCH: The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) will be proceeding with oral hearings on competition in the local pay-TV market, after having proposed to introduce shared sports rights and shorten exclusive contract periods, as reported by Bekezela Phakathi at Business Day.
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.
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.
