Pay-TV as soap opera

“We deserve the chance to fail; the public will not be injured if we fail or not.”
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Agreed.

Funny that ICASA once said that they don't over-regulate.
 
Im guessing (but not sure) that Money might be the root of the problems?
Does one have to pay large amounts of cash to someone in order to get a license?
On another note could ICASA not just regulate the sale of the recieving equipment in ZA? (I imagine it will just be a question of time though before standard DSTV decoders are frobbed to collect the 'illegal' broadcasters)
Shame, the world seems to be changing faster than the paper pushers can keep up with.
 
I do agree that they 'deserve a chance to fail", BUT I certailny do not agree that the public will not be hurt if they do. The public won't be hirt only if the operators use the existing decoders for the public to receive their channels. But if we are to purchase and set up new equipment for this to happen, then somebody will loose in the end when the operator bites the dust. You'll end up with a satellite and decoder equipment you can't use because some over-confident-money-loving idiot took a chance and wanted to cut corners...
 
Vice said:
But if we are to purchase and set up new equipment for this to happen, then somebody will loose in the end when the operator bites the dust. You'll end up with a satellite and decoder equipment you can't use because some over-confident-money-loving idiot took a chance and wanted to cut corners...
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Agreed, but it is the same with your car. If the car company fails and you cannot get spares, YOU will be hurt. BUT it is YOUR choice whether you want to take the risk or not. Why must someone else decides for you?

While I wont be rushing to buy a new decoder for any new service, I really hope that they will be successful and show everyone (SABC) that the advertising based broadcasting does work.
 
If they introduce an open platform in this country and force the operators to work on a standardised decoder then the consumer won't get hurt TOO much..
 
ToxicBunny said:
If they introduce an open platform in this country and force the operators to work on a standardised decoder then the consumer won't get hurt TOO much..
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Standardizing Equipment is bad, it prevents innovation and technological improvements.
 
I am not necessarily saying standardising the software... but the hardware definitely... then when you switch providers, it downloads their software and away you go.

It could work for the first few years just to see which providers survive...
 
ToxicBunny said:
I am not necessarily saying standardising the software... but the hardware definitely... then when you switch providers, it downloads their software and away you go.

It could work for the first few years just to see which providers survive...
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I sort of agree, but right now we're due for a whole lot of hardware changes like SDTV to HDTV, Satellite to IPTV, potentially even a shift from MPEG2 to MPEG4 compression to allow them to squeeze in more channels. If we introduce standardisation of hardware now, especially with out super-competent telecoms regulator in charge, we're probably going to be stuck with our same boxes for the next 10 years.

What I think does need to be restricted is MultiChoice's practice of trying to lock you out from receiving signals of other providers (like the Sentech unencrypted channels) by deliberately making it hard to receive them. There is no technical reason this should be the case.
 
We're going to be stuck with rubbish hardware regardless... simply because our regulator is incompetent.
 
Leftfoot said:
Does anyone know if this is a digital or analogue signal that Free2air are transmitting. I have an old analogue Pace decoder that I would like to put to some use.:)
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I believe its running on a digital system. Even their website claims "Why Pay for Digital Satellite TV?"

In terms of the satellite used, I think its using Eutalsat W3A.
 
I've said this in another earlier thread on this topic ... IMO it's about BEE control ... where ICASA is one of the bouncers at the entrace door regulating who may enter and who not. A new open free democratic SA exist on paper only. The colour of the rich and powerful has changed, that's all. The same methods used before 1994 is now used by the new elite to stay in control ... and staying in control means being rich ... very rich. Those in power throw a few sweets into the crowd every now and then to maintain the impression that they care ... but they care about money and power only. They give the masses a soccer world cup to keep the focus off what they are doing. They make the money and we drool over soccer. 20% of mankind owns 80% of the world. ICASA is one of the bodies that protect the interests of the 20%. This is what I believe.
 
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Over-regulation rules in South Africa!

When will ICASA learn that the airwaves are free?

Hmmm........... next ICASA will want to start licencing shortwave broadcasters like the BBC, VOA and Deutsche Welle!
 
regulator had a number of options available to shut it down, including sealing equipment and submitting an application for a court interdict to stop such illegal activity
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o icasa now you being stupid. how can you stop it? and you will be needing a courts order to enter my premises, and you cant seal their equipment, outside SA?
 
Can't ICASA try and do something beneficial to South African like shaft Vodacom/MTN/Telkom on the interconnect theft!!!!
 
Did we wake you Paris?

In the light of the crumpled suit that was on the news last night? The big question is "Did we wake you?"

See http://www.big.co.za/wordpress/2006...y-nails-icasa-chair-for-sleeping-at-his-desk/

Paris Mashile, chair of Icasa, the powerful broadcasting and telecoms regulator, is often asleep in his office during the day, with his shoes off, according to his former executive secretary. In her exit interview, Shameen Naidoo describes Mashile as a person who, in the few hours he was both at Icasa and awake, did his own private work and ignored his official correspondence for weeks at a time.


Now we know why Icasa is what it is

The Rougues who can broadcast!!!!
 
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