Is SABC Still Planning To Expand Their Operations To MultiChoice's DStv And eMedia Investments' Openview?

In 2021, reported rivals eMedia Investments and the SABC had extended the agreement to include SABC Sport alongside SABC's 19 radio stations. This would sit alongside SABC 1-3 with plans to add two entertainment channels to the existing line-up. 

These channels never came to fruition to Openview consumers since the agreement was announced despite promises to unveil them. The only thing known about these brands is that the premise is similar to SABC Encore with plans to include new content. 

Prior to this, MultiChoice and StarSat were in discussion to launch another TV channel from the public broadcaster, SABC Education. Similar to these two untitled channels on Openview, SABC Education hadn't launched yet and only resides on SABC's DTT and SABC+.

There had been mentions that MultiChoice similar to eMedia Investments could be looking to add more TV channels from the SABC which is delaying the rollout of SABC Education. Another that an SABC Encore based channel was in development. 

Since last year, the public broadcaster was only able to launch two channels SABC Lehae and SABC Variety. Although, they hadn't officially announced the channels or properly marketed them they are however viewable on SABC's DTT with Lehae also on SABC+.

Speculation going around is that these channels would also be allocated on eMedia Investments' Openview. The public broadcaster is low on income and the only reason they would even greenlit a channel would be if they had some form of funding.

These two channels do match the description SABC provided about these Openview channels - repeats. SABC Lehae would give consumers access to local news following the dismissal of News And Sports in 2022 while SABC Variety would compliment ePleiser. 

Not much is known on why SABC hadn't expanded their services as intended but some guesses have to do with the restructuring of SABC 1-3. The SABC is currently reviewing the content on these channels in an attempt to revamp themselves. 

Maybe these endeavors would lead to the creation of more TV channels or restructures for their other brands.

Another reason could be the corporate management of these brands, they had promised to launch SABC+ by 2018/9 but did so successfully by 2022. Same thing with SABC Lehae, no announcement or media briefing on its launch as promised last year.

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