Icasa proposes amendments to M-Net's licence

This licence amendment process is being conducted in terms of section 52(1)(d) of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act, No.153 of 1993. In terms of this provision, Icasa may propose the amendment of a broadcasting licence: "to ensure fair competition between licensees, to comply with such of the terms, conditions and obligations as the Authority may at that time be generally applying to all licences issued in the same category".

The Authority indicated, when renewing M-Net's licence in June 2002, that it had identified certain aspects of M-Net's licence conditions that might warrant amendment in terms of section 52(1)(d) of the Act. The Authority stated in its reasons for that decision that it proposed to initiate the necessary proceedings in due course.

Should the Authority agree to amend M-Net's licence conditions, It is intended that the proposed amendments will take effect on 31 March 2006, or as soon as reasonably practicable after that date, but not less than 18 months from the date of public action of the further notice contemplated in subsection (5) of section 52.

The Authority has invited interested persons to make written representations on the proposed amendments to the Authority by 8 June 2004. Interested persons who make such written representations to the Authority must simultaneously indicate whether they require an opportunity to make oral representations to the Authority on the proposed amendments.