ICASA introduces new local content quotas for broadcastersICASA has released a position paper requiring local radio and TV stations to increase their quotas of locally produced content as of August 2003. New quotas for public radio stations are doubled to 40% while private commercial stations are raised to 25%. New quotas for TV are increased to 55% for public broadcasters, 30% for commercial free-to-air stations and 8% for pay stations. Here follows a shortened version of their discussion paper on the ICASA website. The primary aims of South African content regulation are: South African content regulations also aim at redressing historical imbalances in the cultural and broadcast industries. Broadcasters are encouraged to commission independent production companies which are controlled by previously disadvantaged individuals. Background The 1997 regulations require that 30% of the television content on the public broadcasting television service, during the South African television performance period and in prime time, be South African and that each public broadcasting television service channel carry not less than 25% South African Content. Commercial free-to-air channels are required to ensure that a minimum of 20% of their content is South African while subscription services are required to carry 5% South African content. The regulations further require that 40% of the South African content quota to be met by broadcast licensees should be commissioned from independent producers. Broadcasters are further encouraged to commission independent production companies which are controlled by historically disadvantaged groups, companies which are based in a range of different provinces and in non-metropolitan areas, and new talent. With regard to radio, current regulations require that the holder of any category of sound broadcasting licence which devotes 15% or more of its broadcasting time during the performance period to music, must ensure that at least 20% of the musical works broadcast are South African. It is these regulations that have been reviewed in the public process described below. The Public ProcessThe Authority published a Discussion Paper titled "The Review of Local Content Quotas" in November 2000. The Discussion Paper's primary purpose was to give all interested parties the opportunity to contribute their views. To this end, the Discussion Paper took the form of questions supported by explanatory and contextual discussion. Public announcements were made on radio, television and the Authority's web-site, inviting stakeholders and the public to respond to the questions, both in written and oral submissions. There was a wide response. The Authority received fifty-one written submissions which were made available to the public at the Authority's library and in its regional offices. Thirty-three stakeholders and interested parties made submissions from 7 to 18 May 2001 in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. Financial interest by South AfricansThe requirement of 50% financial interest in production by South Africans will be reduced to 20% Post-productionThe Authority has also decided to remove clauses in current regulations stipulating that post-production should be wholly done in South Africa. Now at least 50% of the production crew should be South African. African Content Arts Programming Public Television Services
Public and Private Commercial Free-to-air Television Services
Subscription Television Services (Unencoded Period)
For the duration of M-Net's unencoded period, M-Net should ensure that a weekly average of 35% of its programming consists of South African television content. New Overall Quotas
Click here for ICASA's complete discussion paper. Source: http://www.icasa.org.za | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||