USAASA welcomes new pay TV channels
The Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) welcomes the awarding of broadcasting licences to Telkom Media, On Digital Media, e.Sat and Walk on Water. The issuing of these licences by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is a welcome boost towards further introducing competition in the broadcasting sector and to achieve the goals of delivering universal service and access to all South Africans, USAASA asserts.
James Theledi, USAASA CEO said, “We believe that the entry of these new broadcasters will widen consumer choice and initiate a process of lowering the costs of pay-TV in South Africa.
While congratulating the new entrants on their achievement, USAASA took the opportunity to remind them of their universal service and access obligations.
As the Agency that is tasked with the delivery of universal service and access, including broadcasting, USAASA will engage ICASA and the new licensees to map out a programme to meet these obligations. Key elements of this programme include the lowering of subscription and decoder costs.”
