PAY-TV broadcaster TopTV has confirmed that an application to broadcast three adult content channels on its pay-TV platform was lodged with the country’s regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), in October.
The broadcaster said in a statement that while the law encouraged public participation around the issue, chief executive officer Eddie Mbalo wished to point out that the final decision rested with Icasa and would be based on the merits of the application.
“There have been many inferences made in the media that TopTV has made this application in a last-ditch effort to save the organisation, which was voluntarily placed in a business rescue process by the board towards the end of 2012,” commented Mbalo.
“However, nothing could be further from the truth. As previously stated in the statement issued by TopTV at the time, the business requires a capital injection from a strategic equity partner. It would therefore be naive and malicious to conclude that the granting of permission to broadcast channels would be sufficient to save a company that requires a capital injection.”
TopTV said the application submitted to Icasa differed from before and took into consideration submissions, viewpoints and comments made previously.
“We acknowledge that TopTV’s failure to participate in the previous hearings denied us the opportunity to state our viewpoint clearly and to set the record straight with regard to how the channels would be broadcast and the necessary protective mechanisms that have been put in place.
“We are willing to listen to differing points of view, but equally expect everyone to respect the democratic rights of all South Africans, including those consumers who have expressed an interest in subscribing to such an offering.” - Cape Argus