ICASA public hearings on must carry obligations

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will conduct public hearings early in December 2007 on the regulations in respect of "Must Carry" Obligations for Subscription Broadcasting Services. ICASA is to prescribe regulations regarding the extent to which subscription broadcast services must carry the television programmes provided by a public broadcasting service licensee.

14 Nov 2007

Such obligations are to be subject to commercially negotiable terms.

The hearings are preceded by a Discussion Document published by ICASA in September 2007, wherein interested parties were invited to submit written representation.

The authority also awarded commercial satellite and cable subscription broadcasting licenses to five successful applicants in September 2007. The regulations envisaged will prescribe the extent to which these successful applicants will carry the programmes of public broadcasting service licensees.

The public hearings will be held 11 – 12 December as follows:

164 Katherine Street
Pinmill Farm

MultiChoice, Telkom Media and SABC will be heard on the first day, and On Digital Media, e.tv/e.sat and Walking on Water will be heard on the second day.