# summary

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/sabc/summary/
- Published: 2020-10-30T16:29:44+02:00
- Author: dearSA

[ View the campaign on the Draft Paper](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/sabc/)

[listen] ChaiFM – [New Blue Review with Benji Shulman (Rob Hutchinson as guest)](https://www.chaifm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020.11.02-Rob-Hutchinson-MD-of-Dear-South-Africa-a-nonprofit-which-facilitates-public-participation-in-government-decision-making-process.mp3)

 * If you’re watching Netflix and DSTV on your phone, laptop, tablet or the good
   old fashioned TV box, the SABC could force you to pay your TV licence.
 * A draft White Paper on Audio and Visual Content Services was released by the 
   department of Communications and Digital Technologies in September which paves
   the way for the SABC to “delegate the collection of the payment of television
   licence fees to other persons.”
 * While subscribers may not necessarily have to brace for increases just yet, he
   agrees that “other persons” in the Broadcasting Act could include Netflix and
   Multichoice
 * ICASA spokesperson Paseka Maleka said: “Section 27(7) of the Broadcasting Act
   provides the SABC with the discretion to delegate the collection of the payment
   of television licence fees to other persons.”
 * SABC spokesperson, Mmoni Seapolelo said “It must be noted that the public broadcaster’
   reference to ‘other persons’ applies to any supplier or third party that the 
   SABC deems necessary to collect licence fees. This includes other parties external
   to the SABC i.e. Debt Collection Agencies, Retailers, Inspectors etc,”.

### COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 * AUDIO – [committee meeting 1](https://pmg.org.za/files/201125pccom.mp3)
 * AUDIO – [committee meeting 2](https://pmg.org.za/files/201125pccom_2.mp3)

MEETING SUMMARY

The Draft White Paper on Audio and Audiovisual Content Services Policy Framework
was presented by the Department of Communications which was welcomed by the Committee.
Members were concerned with growing SABC revenue; the role of ICASA being the regulator
versus the Minister; the interpretation of the word ‘broadcaster’ in the Act; the
role of a commercial service in the public broadcaster; the Minister’s intervention
in the Section 189 process at the SABC.

A presentation was given on public service broadcasters (PSB) in European countries
that spoke to the evolution of audiovisual media regulation in the EU to improve
the level playing field between TV and video-on-demand (VOD) services. Special rules
for PSB are defined at the national level for advertising, local content quotas,
investment obligations; performance measurements for compliance with public service
obligations; licence fees; and investment obligations.

Members engaged in a discussion on finding ways to save the SABC and strategies 
to get people to pay for their TV licence.

### DOWNLOAD DOCUMENTS

 * [SABC Draft White Paper](https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202010/43797gon1081.pdf)

### IN THE MEDIA

 * IOL – [It’s true, the SABC could soon force you to pay your TV licence through Netflix and DSTV](https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/its-true-the-sabc-could-soon-force-you-to-pay-your-tv-licence-through-netflix-and-dstv--5f46141a-f61d-4123-bf5a-8539222d491b)
 * Critical Hit – [SABC to launch its own streaming service, giving it the power to charge a TV license for all smart devices](https://www.criticalhit.net/technology/sabc-to-launch-its-own-streaming-service-giving-it-the-power-to-charge-a-tv-license-for-all-smart-devices/)
 * BusinessTech – [SABC wants TV licences for smartphones, tablets and computers](https://businesstech.co.za/news/media/444383/sabc-wants-tv-licences-for-smartphones-tablets-and-computers/)
 * TimesLIVE – [‘We cannot let the SABC die’ — exec speaks out on TV licences and saving the public broadcaster](https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-10-29-we-cannot-let-the-sabc-die--exec-speaks-out-on-tv-licences-and-saving-the-public-broadcaster/)
 * GO! – [Readers not impressed with new SABC proposal](https://www.goexpress.co.za/2020/10/30/readers-not-impressed-with-new-sabc-proposal/)
 * Business Day – [SABC wants help from MultiChoice and Netflix to collect licence fees](https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2020-10-20-sabc-wants-help-from-multichoice-and-netflix-to-collect-licence-fees/)