SABC considering strategies to monetise free-to-use streaming platform

Daniel Puchert

Daniel Puchert

Journalist
Staff member
Joined
Mar 6, 2024
Messages
1,775
Reaction score
1,503
Plan to monetise free streaming service in South Africa

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is considering various strategies to monetise its free-to-use streaming platform, but it won't say what these strategies are.

The public broadcaster has big plans to improve its financial situation. It anticipates reduced losses of R590 million in 2023/24 and aims to reach profitability again by March 2028.
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
It is already moneytised, they are showing advertising on the app, so yeah, so more advertising?
Click to expand...
Yes, probably with decreasing amounts of time between adverts in whatever content you are watching. By the time you are 3/4 through a movie you will be watching adverts after every 5 seconds or something like that.
 
The SABC’s head of policy and regulatory affairs, Philly Moilwa, recently presented one such option before the committee — a household tax to be collected by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and DStv owner MultiChoice.
Click to expand...
No thank you.
I don't use your service.
I don't need your service.

TAX is just theft of money from hard working citizens.
 
NGL. The app is good. Added on the parents TV and they were stoked to get SABC. Works better than Disney+ IMO
 
First time SABC had anything worth complimenting in a very long time - their free streaming.
First opportunity to maybe make a better profit - their free streaming.

Yep, we can see the confusion alright. Best to learn to walk again before trying to become independent.
 
What this free streaming by SABC? stayed away from them so dont know about it.
 
Very few have successfully monetized a service that started out as free, especially on the internet. I won't even talk about the kind of catalogue they need to compete with established streaming sites, unless they can somehow have leverage on live sporting events.
 
Considering it was a requirement for the tender to be awarded last year it it seems like a good idea.
 
I am amazed at how the SABC work:
  • First, they create a streaming platform (which does not come cheap, someone was paid using taxpayer money). This while they have been making billions in losses since 2014. They launch this in 2022.
  • Then, they realise that it is out of date, so someone is paid again to update it.
  • Then it is out of date again, so someone again gets paid to update it yet again.
  • Finally, the SABC decides that they need to try and get some revenue from it, and are "considering various strategies" o_O
The SABC is clearly run by the Dudu Myenis of this world.
 
Cut over to DTT, force citizens to have a TV Licence get access to the broadcasts.

Then, worry about the streaming platform; require users to hold a valid, paid-up, TV licence for before SABC streaming can be used..
 
What could they charge? If it were R5 per month, I wouldn't subscribe. There's a lot to be found (legally) for free, certainly for English speakers. You might get away with extra advertising but not a monthly fee.
 
The SABC's EPG ( OpenView decoder as well as the SABC+ Android TV app ) on the day and time, showed it is broadcasting the Springboks v NZ rugby game,Cape Town, yet it didn't.

So yeah, so much for that.

SABC+ actually had a Springbok advertisement playing before one could access the channel.

Not holding my breath.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter