SABC Fails To Launch Additional Channels To Openview, Could There Be More To The Story?

As some of you may remember, SABC and eMedia Investments held hands to announce a new partnership that would see SABC Sport alongside SABC's 19 radio stations on Openview. This would join the existing SABC 1-3 channels with more expansion plans said to be underway with the inclusion two new channels.

These channels were non-exclusive brands meaning it could as well be distributed on SABC's DTT or MultiChoice's DStv platform with plans to spread the existing lineup from SABC 1-3 on these channels. At the time, the SABC had stated that when these channels would get enough exposure that new content could be curated specifically for them.

Similar to what we've seen with SABC's DTT channels, this content will likely be allocated on SABC 1-3 cause with more exposure means more advertising income. Although Ouma Sarie was able to pull 1.8 million viewers on e.tv that's not the case with eExtra as it's estimated to be under 500000.

These new channels had been in development hell for 3 years which means they could have been working on some ideas and that's where it's stands. Often when something is in development hell it's likely to get the axe look what happened to BBC UKTV's launch on Openview that went to DStv and consumers are reliant on SABC 3 for their offering.

Let's remember, SABC had continued adding further channels SABC Lehae and SABC Variety maybe one or both of those could be something they were looking to include on Openview. Then something behind the scenes happened with either eMedia Investments or the SABC which led to its cancellation or delay.

They are technically insolvent and need funding in order for these channels to survive. At this stage, they wouldn't really launch channels without knowing they'd be compensated in some capacity. 

Another possible outcome would be structure of this deal, when SABC Encore was distributed on MultiChoice's DStv what happened there was that SABC had a deadline (missed it) but eventually launched with the money coming from MultiChoice. Could the same have been outlined with eMedia Investments agreement with SABC?

This is a non exclusive deal unlike that of SABC Encore so SABC could have benefitted from this as there was no given timeframe by eMedia Investments on when these channels would go live. Probably because the payments eMedia Investments had given to SABC Sport matched that of SABC 1-3.

This means that SABC would be the one covering most of the costs for these channels cause with the financial constraints of eMedia Investments there's no way they could fund all 19 radio stations. This is the reason you don't get SABC News much less eNCA on those platforms due to constraints in livelihood.

Related Posts