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TopTV porn channels reloaded

On Digital Media is trying once more to get permission to broadcast pornography on Top TV

By Jan Vermeulen - January 15, 2013

TopTV has filed a new application with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to launch three adult content channels on its pay TV satellite service.

Heather Kennedy, vice president of marketing at Top TV, confirmed reports that the three channels in question are: Playboy TV, Desire TV, and Private Spice.

TopTV and On Digital Media (ODM) faced a major backlash at the start of 2012 when it announced its intentions to launch three porn channels from Playboy TV.

In an attempt to address the concerns raised, TopTV explained that viewers would have to actively decide to receive the adult channels at an additional subscription of R199/month. Subscribers would have to enter a PIN to access the content, TopTV explained at the time.

Vino Govender, former CEO of On Digital Media who left after TopTV was unable to launch its porn channels in 2012

Initially the pay TV operator held that ICASA could not prevent them from launching the channels due to a regulatory goof on the part of the Authority.

This resulted in ICASA getting an urgent interdict against TopTV, and eventually refusing ODM’s application to broadcast the porn channels.

Among the reasons given by ICASA were that “the right of women to equality and human dignity overrides TopTV’s right to freedom of expression, as well as the rights of viewers to receive pornography on television in the home.”

ICASA’s decision and subsequent statements were curious given that E-TV was permitted to broadcast pornography at certain times of the day on a free-to-air service that was not PIN-protected.

Asked what was different about this new application when compared to their previous, unsuccessful application, Kennedy said that the channels are not the same as before.

In a recent report, Channel24 said that TopTV describes the channels as follows:

Playboy TV: a 24-hour erotic entertainment service starring the world’s most beautiful women.
Desire TV: a brand-new, bespoke 24-hour adult service designed to appeal to men, women and couples. The service will showcase sensitive, erotic, and sensual driven sex scenes. It will only contain content that celebrates women, the human form and the act of lovemaking.
Private Spice: a 24-hour adult service featuring beautiful women and stunning locations that sets the standard of adult entertainment.

ICASA was contacted for comment, but did not respond by the time of publication.