Johannesburg - Three pornographic channels to be aired by Top TV will be a separate package to subscribers, the company said on Wednesday.
“What Top TV proposed in its application is that the channels will be offered as a completely separate, stand-alone package to the current Top TV channel offering,” Top TV said in a statement.
“This will require a separate monthly subscription, age verification and other security features, such as a secure pin code, as outlined in Top TV's submission documents to Icasa.”
The company said the decision by the Independent Communications Authority of SA to grant it a licence to air three pornography channels was “a victory for democracy and freedom of speech”.
It said security measures would be put in place to ensure that only viewers who willingly subscribed to the channels had access to the pornography channels.
On Wednesday Icasa granted the pay channel rights to broadcast pornography.
“Icasa hereby gives notice that it has authorised On Digital Media (operating as Top TV) to broadcast the three adult content channels Playboy TV, Desire TV, and Private Spice within the watershed period,” it said in a statement.
The authorisation of the application followed an extensive public consultation process which Icasa undertook prior to granting the application by On Digital Media.
The Film and Publication Board (FBP) welcomed Icasa's decision.
“As the FPB we are encouraged to see that the Independent Communications Authority of SA considered our representations and placed on Top TV stringent conditions,” CEO Yoliswa Makhasi said.
“These representations were premised on the protection of children from exposure to potentially harmful content and in this case explicit content,” said Makhasi.
The Christian Democratic Party described Icasa's decision as appalling.
“While a permissive lifestyle appears to be acceptable to Icasa, they have in the past shut down numerous Christian radio stations,” party leader Theunis Botha said.
“When it comes to pornography, however, or other damaging permissive values, freedom of everything suddenly applies, except the freedom of those who do not want to see the country exposed to such filth and the consequences thereof.” - Sapa