MultiChoice Heading To Court Over Controversial SABC Deal

 MultiChoice is currently appealing a ruling from South Africa’s Competition Commission, which stated that its 2013 agreement with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) constituted an unreported merger. The deal, which centered around the distribution of television content between the two companies, has sparked controversy due to its involvement in the ongoing digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration and its clauses that allegedly influenced SABC’s stance on encryption.

The Competition Commission found that the agreement, particularly its encryption clause, effectively restricted competition by protecting MultiChoice’s dominant position in the pay-TV market. The SABC had previously alternated its position on encryption, but in the agreement, it committed to not encrypt its free-to-air channels on the DTT platform, thus preventing new competitors from entering the market. This influence over the SABC’s policy constituted a merger, according to the Competition Act, which requires such mergers to be notified and approved by the competition authorities before implementation.

MultiChoice insists that the 2013 agreement was a typical business arrangement and that it should not be categorised as a merger. They argue that no anti-competitive intent was involved, and that the deal was in line with standard content-sharing practices. However, the Competition Commission has recommended that the Competition Tribunal treat the agreement as a merger and seek regulatory approval, further proposing potential proceedings against both MultiChoice and the SABC for failing to adhere to the notification requirements.

The ongoing appeal highlights tensions between corporate interests and regulatory oversight in the South African broadcasting sector. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of digital migration, competition laws, and the relationship between public broadcasters and private media giants.

This case has been under scrutiny for several years, with earlier efforts to challenge the deal dismissed due to insufficient evidence. However, new investigations have provided fresh insights that suggest the agreement warranted closer examination under competition law. As the case develops, it will continue to be a focal point for both industry watchers and regulators.

"The Bollore Effect": Could SABC News, eNCA And Newzroom Afrika Also Be Impacted By Canal+ Possible Takeover Of MultiChoice?

MultiChoice is technically insolvent a position in which the liabilities weigh more than their assets meaning the company won't be able to cover most of their expenses and could go bankrupt. So they're reliant on Canal+ transaction in order to remain afloat as they take the matter to legislation.

As some readers are aware, there was reports going around about the potential owners Canal+ and Vivendi that similar to MultiChoice would buy up shares in a company before staging a hostile takeover. But most of the attention was pointed toward the editorial staff and the effects this transaction had on them.

eMedia Investments' Openview and StarSat already package the French news channel France24 alongside MultiChoice's DStv in the Eastern and Western parts of Africa. This channel has been subjected to "editorial interference" or as the media would brand this situation "corporate bullying".

The owners in question would force a channel like France24 to express certain views about a topic and failure to abide by those policies would risk that individual their job. Corporate would go about hiring someone who is willing to follow guidelines which is why France24 looks the way it is now.

With Canal+ obtaining almost half of MultiChoice shares there's fear lurking around that SABC News, eNCA and Newzroom Afrika heading down a similar route. Although Canal+ wouldn't own these channels they would own MultiChoice which in turn owns France24 and would want to level the playing field.

With Canal+ already prioritizing C8 and BFM alongside France24 in Africa another fear surrounding these channels would be budget cuts. The first thing that will happen once the transaction concludes would be corporate downsizing with lower to upper management seeing cuts with branches closing down.

Openview: "The Challenges Of Establishing A Competitor To SABC News And eNCA"

MultiChoice remains a dominant player in the African landscape against the likes of Zuku TV, Azam TV and StarTimes with their DStv offering but in recent years this has been under threat against the likes of Disney+ and Netflix. They (or in particular MultiChoice Africa) is currently in the process of being acquired by the French broadcaster after serving as a competitor in the region.

SABC News, eNCA and Newzroom Afrika serve as those leading destinations for editorial news and throughout their existence hpas only been packaged within MultiChoice's offering. This is because the pay-tv company had been allocating funds for content and staff and unlike some brands like BBC News hadn't received much funding from a third party.

It is one of those reasons that SABC News had been removed from DTT platforms and replaced by SABC Lehae and why eNCA is not seen on eMedia Investment's Openview. There was a whole debate about tandrying to get these brands onto more platforms outside of MultiChoice's reach but the trail had since then been dried out of course there were multiple attempts at launching a competitive offering.

Sometime after StarTimes had acquired TopTV, they had explored the idea of launching a local news channel within the South African market but deemed it too expensive and abandoned those plans. eMedia Investments became the second broadcaster with OpenNews (before becoming News And Sports) and the channel wasn't financially sustainable which led to it's demise.

SABC became the third broadcaster with SABC Lehae the only problem was that the channel is accessibility as SABC had reported that DTT had only accumulated around 400,000 activations by 2020. Yet, eMedia Investments had accumulated over 2 million subscribers by then despite rolling out their STBs years after they were made available to the market.

The fact that SABC News is not on Openview doesn't mean the chances of acquiring it for the platform is unlikely. eMedia Investments could as well look into licensing SABC News but from what was speculated from some insiders the costs to acquire such a channel might not came in their favor cause eMedia. relies on advertising while MultiChoice offers a pay-tv service.

Development Alert: SABC News Has Reportedly Been Blocked From DTT Platforms And Possible SABC+, Replaced With SABC Lehae

During the week, it was reported that the public broadcaster had renewed their agreement with MultiChoice for SABC News. It was also revealed that they officially launched their second news channel SABC Lehae although not much marketing was put to welcome the new channel.

Following the arrival of SABC Lehae, several viewers on SABC's DTT had reported that SABC News is no longer available on the platform cause as viewers browse to view the channel all they get is a coloured screen. So we assume that this new agreement with MultiChoice prevents consumers from accessing SABC News.

SABC Lehae has been added as collateral and likely a backup to SABC News but unlike the pay-tv counterpart it is very much riddled with old programming as well as telecasts of SABC 1-3. We assume the public broadcaster couldn't retain SABC News on their DTT platform for an extended period.

As my hunch suggested previously, SABC Lehae is basically what Zee One is to Zee World but with SABC News - competition. As one brand is confined to a paywall while the other is filtered to its likeness with some variation added every and now then which kind of removes any possibility I had of it being included on MultiChoice's DStv.

If anything, it wouldn't surprise me if the channel were to surface on eMedia Investments' Openview platform to replace the news part of e.tv's News And Sport. As that too was also riddled with repeats and licenced content from various other broadcasters so to speak.

If there's one thing that these recent SABC and MultiChoice developments had suggested there's a lot of beef brewing between the two. Initially, it was reflected on sports but now it's reflecting on other areas of the business with SABC's content removed from catch-up.

Just curious to wonder what's next for these two, my guess would be the carriage of SABC 1-3 as the two had been negotiating for fees but it reached a dead end. Honestly speaking, would it be surprising if SABC 3 were to exit the platform and program changes awaited SABC 1 and 2.

For a while now, SABC had managed to divide the content between platforms and honestly the chances of their channels particularly SABC 3 undergoing a similar scenario wouldn't seem far fetched as the channel hasn't been sustainable and is the least watched amongst the three channels.

Coming Soon To More Platforms??? As Sources Say Discussion Are Said To Be Underway For The Much Anticipated News Platform, SABC eKhaya

SABC is set to launch a second news channel known to audiences as SABC eKhaya (formerly SABC Parliament) in the second quarter of the year carrying parliamentary content and other news programming in indigenous languages including English.

The news channel will serve as a regional spinoff to the current SABC News channel on DStv which had a similar offering for the yet-to-be-named news channel before expanding their footprint to the rest of Africa which further limited those aspects.

The channel is said to launch the second quarter of the year exclusively on SABC's DTT and very likely SABC+ as seen with SABC News which is said to be available on DStv at an exclusive basis.

Since news of the channel surfaced, consumers were curious as to whether eMedia Investments, and if it's still an option On Digital Media and StarTimes would be looking to add the channel on their platforms seeing as they lack such alternative unlike MultiChoice.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC, Part 2
- Could SABC Encore revival be scrapped?
- A former SABC channel was added onto Openview
- SABC Movies' dream journal

Taking to account, these outlets have pending agreements with the as mentioned public broadcaster for more channels aside from SABC 1-3 which they have fallen far behind on in terms of filing up with the end of bargain.

The yet-to-be-named news platform fits the description of the promised new channels like a glove - repeats. As seen a few years ago, eMedia Investments is waiting on two encore based channels while MultiChoice opts to use them as leverage on eMedia's 4 channels.

As to whether discussions are underway, sources had mentioned to numerous viewers of such matter but seeing as the channel is still at its early stage. It seems highly unlikely, for now you can view the test channel exclusively on SABC's DTT.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

SABC Launches Second News Channel Formerly Known As SABC Parliament In April 2023

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will offer the public service broadcaster’s first ever 24-hour news channel in African languages in April 2023. In addition, this channel will offer an extensive coverage of parliamentary proceedings.

The launch of this channel is in line with the SABC’s public mandate obligation, for the provision of universal access, as enjoined by the relevant legislation governing the SABC.

The imminent launch of this channel reinforces the SABC’s pivotal role in facilitating social cohesion, by providing a wide range of programming that caters for the needs of the entire society. The SABC is also driven by the three key principles in its news delivery and value proposition: the principle of inclusion, deliberation and opinion formation which are aimed at empowering citizens to be part of participatory democracy, despite their socio-economic status, geographical location and language.

The channel, which is not new, was acquired in 2018 and publicly accessed through the DTT platform from 2019, offering parliamentary proceedings exclusively. In line with the SABC’s governance framework, a business decision was made to reposition the channel to offer more than parliamentary proceedings and include bulletins and current affairs in African languages. This channel will continue to broadcast on DTT and will be added on the public broadcaster’s OTT platform.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

The SABC’s Group Executive: News and Current Affairs, Mr. Moshoeshoe Monare stated that “This is our response to the demand from millions of our viewers yearning for extensive news coverage and a dedicated channel in their own languages. The response from our viewers was phenomenal and this is not a replication of our English news channel. We are telling different stories of our communities and reflecting people’s aspirations in their own languages.”

Monare further stated that “This public news service is an added platform to serve mainly communities that are not necessarily reached by mainstream commercial media. These are millions of viewers who wait until evening, to watch less than half an hour bulletins in their own languages. SABC News is well positioned to rise to this challenge, because of its decades of experience in public broadcasting in indigenous languages”.

The SABC reiterates its commitment as the country’s only public service broadcaster, to fulfil its constitutional mandate of delivering news and current affairs content that reflects the diverse South African society.

All the details pertaining to the channel will be revealed soon.

SABC Parliament Has Been Scrapped For Upcoming DTT Channel, Might Be Added Onto Openview And DStv

During the week, the public broadcaster unveiled a promo where several of their anchors announced the launch of an influential news channel which will serve as a complimentary to SABC News covering Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa basically all 12 indigenous languages.

The channel is said to not offer English news bulletins or at least from what other places are showing as they're leaving that to the current SABC News channel carried exclusively onto MultiChoice's DStv and also available on their DTT platform.

As discussed, no name had been shared for the channel as it gears up for an early 2023 release on DTT platforms.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

From what several consumers have shared SABC Parliament, a brand which formed part of the public broadcaster failed DTT plans have been shelved or restructured better yet to cater for this new channel with shows like Fokus, Leitlho La Schaba and Ngula La Vuthi.

All of this are basically repeats from SABC 1-3 and News and also summarised my theory for this new channel just another OpenNews which might as well have more success than eMedia's failed News And Sport channel.

SABC:
- Could SABC Encore revival be scrapped?
- A former SABC channel was added onto Openview
- SABC Movies' dream journal
- SABC Education not launching on Openview

Taking the content to account, it's possible that this might be one of the two entertainment channels eMedia Investments failed to launch in 2021 and also one of the three yet to be launched channels on DStv to replace eMedia's 4 channels.

The public broadcaster is behind on launching new channels but the details about this upcoming channel matches the description promised to Openview consumers about the two channels in 2021: it would carry a lot of existing and archived material.

With SABC Parliament scrapped, you've got to wonder what's become of the SABC Encore revival and SABC Children. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if these suffered the chop as well but the channels were just clear speculation.

Roundups #125: Avatar To Return With New Animated Series On Nickelodeon, Eternal Love Rebroadcast Coming Soon To Star Life And SABC Plans To Launch Indigenous News Channel In 2023

Third Avatar instalment in the works at Paramount

Get ready to show off your element-bending skills as Paramount+ is brewing a new Avatar animated series. The show is slated for a 2025 release and will feature an ‘earth Avatar’ after Aang and Korra. There is also a report that an animated movie will arrive in theaters after the series comes out and will have the same Avatar as the show.

Avatar Studios is building its own universe now, and with many projects booked and planned ahead, there is going to be no shortage of Avatar content for fans. An adult Aang movie is reportedly coming to theaters on October 10, 2025, as well as the much-anticipated on-demand series. Both will be released in the same year – a major launch for the studio.

The movie will be Avatar Studios’ first-ever project, hence this implies that it will come before the animated series, followed by the animated movie. Fans should also not forget that there is a live-action young Aang series coming in 2023.

Regular Nick:
- CBeebies picks up second season to Tish And Tash
- Best & Bester coming soon to Nicktoons
- We Baby Bears currently the only original program on Cartoon Network
- January on Cartoon Network and Boomerang

Eternal Love is back by popular demand on Star Life

Eternal Love revolves around the lives of Dr. Rohit Sippy and Sonakshi Rastogi, two completely different individuals belonging to completely different worlds unaware of the fact that their worlds, though poles apart, are meant to collide.

It is an Indian romantic drama television series that aired from 17 June 2019 to 14 March 2020 on StarPlus. Produced by Sandiip Sikcand under SOL Productions, it starred Karan Grover and Dipika Kakar as lead actors.

The series aired on the channel in 2021 and makes a comeback as part of The Best Of Star Life from January 9 replacing Forbidden Love.

Everyday Novelas:
- Prediction: What to expect on Telemundo by next year?
- Prediction: eBolly to rollout on the Openview platform
- Prediction: What to expect on TLNovelas by next year?
- Carmen And Razia Sultan coming soon to Zee One and Zee World

Second SABC News channel reportedly in development

SABC News has been exclusive to DTT and MultiChoice's DStv platform giving viewers insights on what's happening in South Africa and across the world. Despite having a bit of rivalry with eNCA remains as another valuable brand to the market.

As seen within their bulletins, it was revealed that the public broadcaster wants to launch its 7th TV channel by next year probably before March which serves as an expansion to the current SABC News Channel offering multilingual content and a possible replacement to SABC Parliament.

Of course, the public broadcaster fails to mention where they'll get the necessary funds to go on such a venture. My guess is the channel will serve as one of the upcoming channels for Openview (Openview Ultra, grain of salt) and DStv.

My guess seeing as this channel may not be tied down like the SABC News Channel is that it will be crawling with repeats from SABC 1-3 possibly dubbed and offer primetime news for about 2 hours.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

Reviewing Major Changes Coming Soon To The SABC

Last month, the public broadcaster was all buzz hosting a last minute showcase where they transitioned to video entertainment announcing further content for their current channels on top of launching SABC+ in place of the former TelkomOne streaming service.

Of course, what remains absent is the two entertainment channels announced in partnership with eMedia Investments last year. Just like SABC+, sources mention that those channels had already entered final stages a while back.

Honestly, it doesn't appear that they'll be anything time soon but with these recent adjustments. It's possible that they'll likely bring them up in the near future or as soon as most of these developments are dealt with.

As mentioned, the SABC has shared a couple of things in which we want to brief everyone on:

* The public broadcaster is heading for another loss making year with R608 million which has just tripled from last year R201 million.
* They failed to hit their targets in terms of commissioning, producing and broadcasting fresh content with most of the blows going onto SABC 1. All 3 channels target 20% of which the top channel reaches 4% with the second channel 14% and least watched 9%.
* The SABC is expected to make a chunk of cash through their newly launched streaming service, SABC+. R6 million in one quarter alongside R31.5 million in the next quarter.
* The revenue for their 3 channels has been negatively impacted following the cancellation of analogue signals.
* SABC+ has about 15000 signups on a daily basis can't say it's surprising considering that they have the most accessible channels in South Africa.
* A new loyalty programme might be in works the aim is to boost the number of TV Licence payers.
* Still bickering want MultiChoice to pay for their 3 channels although other outlets like Openview view them freely.
* A budget for their channels had been shared with the media. From what's known R468 million had been budgeted for which 218 million is spent and R665 million is earned on SABC 1, R141 million is spent and R199 million earned on SABC 2 and lastly R69 million is spent and R79 million is earned on SABC 1.
* SABC 1 will focus more on sourcing youth based content while SABC 2 transitions to current affairs and news.
* They'll be cutting back on the amount of social media handles we assume that they are also referring to shows like The Epic Hangout which too has a social page.
* A cutback on repeats especially on primetime with the axing of non-performing content. We assume The Estate will be saved despite primetime not being one of the top 20 shows on SABC 3.
* Uzalo remains on SABC 1 and Muvhango remains on SABC 2 - remember how the public broadcaster repeated shows on multiple channels well they'll put a stop to that meaning each primary show will air on their primary channel with SABC+ also filling that gap.
* The public broadcaster in partnership with SABC News is trying to find alternatives to the cancelled Special Assignment on SABC 3.

SABC And eMedia Investments Expand Partnership, Will MultiChoice And StarTimes Follow?

eMedia Investments, owners of free-to-air satellite service Openview, and the SABC have reached a business agreement that sees Openview continue to broadcast high-definition channels SABC 1, 2 and 3, as well as 3 additional television channels from the public broadcaster, as well as all 19 radio stations owned by the SABC.

The business agreement means that the SABC is officially entering the free-to-air satellite market, with SABC Sports Channel the first of the 3 additional SABC channels bring added to the Openview service.

SABC radio brands Ukhozi FM, Metro FM, Lesedi and Umhlobo Wenene are among the radio stations now also available on Openview, transmitted via digital broadcasting on a free-to-air basis.

Commenting on the new multi-year signal distribution and channel carriage agreement, eMedia Investments COO, Antonio Lee, says, "This is an exciting development for both the SABC and ourselves. The agreement ushers in a new level of collaboration between a private free-to-air satellite platform and public free-to-air broadcast services. There is no doubt it will boost the offering of Openview and will extend the SABC’s audience reach. We can now offer our Openview audience additional quality content and access to digital broadcast radio in the widest variety of languages possible in South Africa. We hope this is the start of a stronger and more fruitful relationship between Openview and the SABC".

SABC’s COO, Ian Plaatjes, adds, “This agreement enables the SABC to grow its channel offering and reach into the digital broadcasting space with three additional HD television channels. The first channel to be launched will be an SABC Sport Channel and will be distributed simultaneously across Openview, DTT, Telkom One and other streaming platforms. This collaboration will enable the SABC to optimally exploit its rich sport content rights and leverage the Openview reach to provide an improved integrated sport value proposition for our advertising clients across platforms. The agreement also enhances the distribution of SABC radio stations to create an increased value proposition for our radio advertising inventory. The other two TV channels, to be announced within the next 3 months, will leverage extensive SABC content and archived material.”

"The other two TV channels" "leverage extensive content and archived material" - SABC Education being the first with the other possibly being SABC Encore maybe it will launch under another new name perhaps or with an updated look. It would be shocking if it was SABC News.

Openview and the SABC believe that this agreement will expedite digital migration from analogue-only households to digital broadcasting platforms with more compelling free-to-air channels and content. Together with the DTT platform, Openview provides audiences with a free HD alternative to both analogue terrestrial and pay satellite options.

According to a source, this development was in talks with pay-tv platforms as well. SABC Education has been showing signs of launching and my guess was May which is the same time the channel launched.

Not long ago, even eMedia Investments entire set of channels were rumoured to be added onto DStv so far only 4 reside on that platform.

Read Also:
- New Turkish drama coming to SABC 3
- BBC recognises African animation
- Soon viewers will need a decoder or smart TV to continue watching SABC 1-3 and e.tv as well as recieve additional channels
- New Turkish drama coming to eExtra in April
- SABC and e.tv ratings for February 2021
- Is a rebrand under way for the eMedia set of channels?
- Will e.tv pick up the rights to the Turkish drama Kuzgun which is currently airing on TDC (DStv 123) as Raven?
- SABC planning to reduce Muvhango and 7de Laan
- When will Star Plus and Star Life on DStv, Openview and StarTimes (Starsat) adapt to the Utsav branding?
- PremiumFree launching as an alternative to OpenView 
- SABC to launch a streaming service
- Current status of TV licence
- Government enforcing local quota on streaming platforms

Review On SABC: Channels, Content And Management

SABC has been around for over 84 years, they started out as a radio service and expanded with 3 linear channels. Throughout those years, they've experienced and overcome various obstacles.

SABC began as a station for white folks as it was illegal include blacks in linear television until the early 90s where they positioned their 3 channels to cater for different groups (2.5 in general).

The first three channels from their stable carry a mix of local and "international" content:

SABC 1 is catered towards the black community which seems odd as South Africa since they reserve most of their airtime for one. They can be inclusive but lack diversity. If you want to sleep through your heritage then this is the place to be.

SABC 2, this channel caters towards the niche market specifically Afrikaans, Tsonga and Venda. For a niche station, they do a better job ignoring them and making them feel as small as they already are in numbers.

SABC 3 offers a variety of entertainment in English. The channel is your go-to place if you like the 80s or live under a rock and afraid to face society head-on.

The following aren't must carry like the three above but are operated by SABC as well:

SABC News, gives you live coverage of the latest news from South Africa. The channel is for the elderly as its informative and very reliable especially in politics. If you're not an entertainment junkie this channel fits your description.

SABC Sports, it's not what I anticipated from this brand, I was hoping that SABC would use this platform to promote fresh talent by giving them a platform to showcase their skills but no they'd rather just focus on the ones out on the field.

SABC Education, they're doing a remarkable job in this field the problem would have to be the timeslots for these programs.

International and Local

The international lineup is still impressive from my standpoint the problem would be the airtime for this I get why they're trying to force local content down our throats. In other countries, local is what dominates that region.

Local entertainment on SABC was dominating before Top Billing, High Rollers and Eastern Mosaic weren't cancelled. Now the broadcaster thinks soapies will be enough to keep them afloat.

Another reason for their failure

They're catering towards analogue viewers which is outdated and the government has been planning to discontinue but hasn't done as of yet.

Due to those delays, the broadcaster is failing to lure viewers online and through platforms like OpenView and DStv since there's more alternatives besides the 4 you'd pick up with only a TV set.

Read Also:
- SABC wants platforms like OpenView and DStv to pay TV licence
- SABC is launching a streaming service
- Plans are underway to get SABC Education on DStv and Starsat

Telkom In Partnership With SABC Launch A Streaming Service

Telkom launches its TelkomONE video streaming service including linear TV channels with free package and R7 per day subscription; plans more bouquets and says 'we're here for the long run'.

Telkom that initially promised to do so on Thursday last week, on Monday launched its new TelkomONE streaming service, offering some linear TV channels in its offering, with a free version as well as a TelkomONE Amp subscription package that will cost R7 per day or R49 per month.

While currently only offering the free package that will carry advertising and one AMP subscription package, Telkom says it will expand over time to offer various different subscription fee packages.

The TelkomONE video-on-demand (VOD) service was built by Discover Digital and Telkom signed a 5-year contract with the SABC to carry SABC1 and SABC2 as linear TV channels, as well as a package of library content from the SABC archives for its video-on-demand service.

TelkomONE however carries more than just SABC content. The heavy local catalogue curated along the genres of lifestyle, comedy, music and reality TV content is flavoured with some international shows from Hollywood and independent overseas studios, and well as from South Africa locally.

TelkomONE is available through downloading it as a mobile app, internet browsers at telkomone.tv on personal computers, Android TV and Telkom's own Telkom LIT set-top box. Payment for TelkomONE can be done with Telkom airtime, adding it postpaid to fixed and mobile Telkom contracts, credit and debit cards, vouchers or cash.

Telkom declined to answer a media enquiry on Monday asked what the financial investment in rand has been so far in establishing TelkomONE as its video-on-demand service and for what period it will definitely be running it before evaluating its prospects and return on the investment to the telecom's bottom line.

Linear TV channels that will be streaming on TelkomONE include SABC1, SABC2, Kaya TV, SABC Sport, SABC Education, Mindset, Al Jazeera, africanews, Deutsche Welle, euronews, France24, RT, GOD TV, Hope Channel, Inspiration TV and SonLifeBroadcasting Network (SBN).

The SABC's 19 radio stations will also be streaming on TelkomONE including MetroFM, RSG, Umhlobo Wenene, 5FM, Thobela FM and Ukhozi FM.

Included in the TelkomONE AMP package users get an additional 30 curated audio playlists that is done by a Canadian service provider packaging and distributing African content.

Notably absent from TelkomONE is SABC3 because the streaming licensing rights for international content on the channel couldn't be cleared, as well as the SABC's own TV news channel SABC News.

Neither Telkom nor the SABC explained why SABC News isn't available although it's likely that although it is a public broadcaster channel, it was commissioned and is being paid for by MultiChoice for its DStv service.

The SABC will receive an annual channels carriage licensing fee for its linear TV and radio channels, as well as for the on-demand archive content, 10% of which the SABC will cycle and change monthly to keep it fresh. This deal includes 1000 of hours of VOD content.

The SABC will also share in the TelkomONE advertising revenue.

The SABC placing its content on TelkomONE is separate from the SABC's plan to launch its own SABC iPlayer video streaming service in 2021.

Sipho Maseko, Telkom CEO, says "TelkomONE will make it possible for subscribers to pause, go back into the electronic programming guide and time-shift, and instantly watch a scheduled TV show they may have missed. Telkom is making digital TV functionality available to all".

Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, says "We believe that the transition to digital broadcasting and over-the-top (OTT) is a key strategy for the survival and relevance of the South African public broadcaster".

Stephen Watson, founding managing director of Discover Digital that built TelkomONE, says it contains technologies and functions that are first in the African market.

On the AMP package a subscriber can download 5 titles and a user have 48 hours to start watching.

Users can record content and shows from the live linear TV channels which will be recorded in the could and then appear in the account section under "my recordings".

Interestingly, if you've missed a show, users can now go back into the past with the free package on the EPG for 24 hours and select a show that was already broadcast, and it will play immediately. On the AMP package a TelkomONE viewer can scroll back on a specific linear TV channel as far as 3 days and still watch a specific show.

With TelkomONE the time-shifted PVR function is therefore no longer limited to consumers who can afford a set-top box with a hard drive.

TelkomONE will also offer a 4K channel broadcasting music festivals and says it will build out its 4K content offering over time. Within the free package TelkomONE will offer talk shows and music artists performing live, streamed in 4K resolution, which will be available to Telkom LIT box users.

After Telkom last week said "we're ready" and will launch on 5 November, Wanda Mkhize, Telkom's executive for smart home and content, told TVwithThinus about the postponement that "with us delaying the launch and actually launching today we had some technical and connection challenges on Thursday and unfortunately couldn't launch the platform and as such we made sure that we could at least deliver as soon as possible and that's why TelkomONE is launching today".

TVwithThinus also asked whether the TelkomONE app will also be added to MultiChoice's latest DStv Explora that will carry and offer a carousel of different VOD streaming services like Netflix, Showmax and Amazon Prime Video, or in terms of set-top boxes it will be limited to Telkom LIT.

Wanda Mkhize said that "Telkom and MultiChoice have had a longstanding relationship, we currently carry the DStv application on our Telkom LIT box, and relationships with regards to services and what we produce we would definitely continue having those conversations".

With the South African VOD landscape already littered with failures like VIDI, Altech Node, PCCW's OnTapTV, Kwesé Play and Kwesé TV and most recently Cell C black that sucked up hundreds of millions of rands without a return on investment, Wanda Mkhize, when TVwithThinus asked for how long TelkomONE will definitely be running, said "we're here for the long run".

"We've looked at the strategy, we've framed it in regards to introducing two bouquets right now. We have a future-view of introducing more bouquets, opening up and create greater access specifically to our fixed-line customers."

"We also believe and are following the strategy of being a super-aggregator which means that we believe that our customers need to have choice in regards to the services that they like to take up. Therefore we will be introducing more services onto the platform and giving our consumers- both mobile and fixed - more access."

SABC And Multichoice Enter Into New Contract

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and MultiChoice are pleased to announce that they have signed a new commercial channel supply agreement allowing the SABC News and SABC Encore channels to continue to be broadcast on DStv.
 
The agreement follows extensive discussions between the parties as the previous contract is set to expire.  SABC and MultiChoice believe that this agreement will give their relationship a new start.
 
DStv customers will continue to enjoy around the clock news coverage from SABC News on channel 404, while SABC Encore on channel 156 will allow viewers to indulge in nostalgia, airing old favourites and classics.  The SABC archives, which the SABC uses to produce SABC Encore, remains the wholly-owned property of the SABC.
 
SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe said: “The SABC welcomes the new agreement with MultiChoice which will bring certainty to our viewers and our staff.  The board and management of the SABC are satisfied that the agreement meets both the commercial and governance needs of the SABC.  The SABC looks forward to delivering high quality channels into the future.”
 
MultiChoice South Africa CEO Calvo Mawela said: “We are pleased to be able to continue to carry these channels on DStv.  We have a long standing relationship with SABC and are happy that we have reached a mutually beneficial agreement.  We look forward to continue working with SABC to deliver great entertainment to our customers.”