TV digital switch help

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TV digital switch help

Government is to provide R2.45 billion to South Africa's "poorest TV-owning households" to help them buy the set-top signal boxes they will need once the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting is completed in 2011.
 
At a rate of R400 per box this will buy 6 000 000 boxes.
Can I get one please? And yes, I pay for a TV licence.
 
Can I get one too? I don't even watch SABC and I have to have a SABC license.
 
At a rate of R400 per box this will buy 6 000 000 boxes.
Can I get one please? And yes, I pay for a TV licence.

Can I get one too? I don't even watch SABC and I have to have a SABC license.

If this is you, then no problem....

"In terms of the proposed scheme, government would provide a 70 percent incentive for the set-top boxes to the five million poorest TV-owning households at a cost of R2,45-billion during the three years of dual illumination,"
 
They should use the money elsewhere? Perhaps build green towers instead of the pebblebed reactor. Cost them 11billion only to find out it doesn't work and for the same money they would've had a completely green solution that offers 12 times more power than the pebblebed... hmmmm ponders AAAAH I LOVE ZOOS!!!!
 
I wouldn't know. But since I can afford a phone line and broadband, maybe I'm not too poor... :D

I also briefly put some thought into it... then realised I am wearing a pair of shorts with no holes in it.... and more importantly I have a laptop on my lap so not sure I qualify! :)

But 5 million does mean a fair whack of the population considering it says "poorest TV-owning households". The very poorest of poor do not have TVs, so who knows, we may scrape in!! :)
 
My dad was on the board for the pebblebed. There were other issues that finally ended it.
 
I also briefly put some thought into it... then realised I am wearing a pair of shorts with no holes in it.... and more importantly I have a laptop on my lap so not sure I qualify! :)

But 5 million does mean a fair whack of the population considering it says "poorest TV-owning households". The very poorest of poor do not have TVs, so who knows, we may scrape in!! :)

True. I am scared however that they will look at housing for qualifying people- I often see people in Mamelodi who live in shacks, yet own X5's and ML's....
 
Surely this money could be better used elsewhere?

Or does this just supply an easy way to make sure the people are at home, watching TV, rather than thinking about how bad guavamunt is running this country?
 
Surely this money could be better used elsewhere?

Or does this just supply an easy way to make sure the people are at home, watching TV, rather than thinking about how bad guavamunt is running this country?

And if they didn't provide assistance with this switch then someone else would be moaning about that.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Historically government has had a problem spending all they have budgeted for, so money is not the concern....
 
I say the government should throw more money at this.... And then use it to subside the price of HD TV's.. Imagine buying that new 65" Full HD plasma for R4000.:D
 
I still want to know. If after 2011 I do not get a set-top box. Do I still need to pay for a tv license for my analog tv ?
 
I still want to know. If after 2011 I do not get a set-top box. Do I still need to pay for a tv license for my analog tv ?
Good point. Theoretically, the answer would be no. Since the law states that you have to have a TV license if you own a device capable of receiving broadcast TV signals (VHF, UHF). One could then argue that when they remove the analog signal, that your device is no longer capable of receiving broadcast TV signals.
 
Good point. Theoretically, the answer would be no. Since the law states that you have to have a TV license if you own a device capable of receiving broadcast TV signals (VHF, UHF). One could then argue that when they remove the analog signal, that your device is no longer capable of receiving broadcast TV signals.

Why theoretically then? If they are no longer transmitting an analogue signal then you would have nothing to pay for.
 
been paying SABC for +-16 years and have not watched any "local" guavament broadcasts! Do I qualify? Or should I "lie" in the sun somemore?
 
I still want to know. If after 2011 I do not get a set-top box. Do I still need to pay for a tv license for my analog tv ?

You know you will. The government (or ICASA) will simply change the requirements of the license to "any device on which you can view television [or contains a "tv-tuner"]).
 
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