A new television station by Sunday
A year ago the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) would only give community television stations a 30-day broadcasting licence, but with new legislation SowetoTV has managed to secure a year-long licence starting on Sunday.
The regulator has lagged behind in terms of creating quick and efficient procedures and guidelines as far as community television is concerned.
For instance, SowetoTV was only issued a licence two weeks ago and is expected to start broadcasting at the beginning of July, says Deon Botha, who is in charge of securing advertising and marketing for the television station.
SowetoTV is not new to the community television market. It first broadcast in 2005 for about eight hours every day for a month. And again the following year in December.
It's not everyday that you meet a CEO that uses a taxi as a mode of transport. When I spoke to Tshepo Thafeng, founder of SowetoTV, he was in a taxi en route to a meeting to prepare for his station's broadcast on Sunday.
"After robot," I heard him telling the taxi driver whilst talking to him on a cellphone. A very busy man, he told me that he had a few minutes to spare while he made his way to his next appointment.
The idea to start SowetoTV came to him seven years ago after he'd spent many years in radio broadcasting. Thafeng has worked for community radio stations as well as a commercial station, 702.
Thafeng told Moneyweb that all his employees work on a voluntary basis because the station can't afford to pay anyone.
The little money it does get from advertisers and funders goes towards production costs, Botha said.
"We basically need about R250 000 a month which constitutes cost of transmitters, bandwidth from Sentech, tape stock and additional equipment," he said
"We get volunteers to do the presenting and production work. And try to at least give them money for transport and food."
Botha said that when they first broadcast SowetoTV two years ago – they had about 135 volunteers eager to get their chance at stardom.
"We look for people with a passion for television and their community. Through AirMedia we've been able to broadcast through a mobile studio. It's been great. I remember working until three or four in the morning, putting programmes together.
"Icasa will sometimes let you know three days before you are set to go live that they've given you a licence. So it's touch and go," he said.
Botha said that its content is generally community-orientated showcasing hip-hop talent, poetry, programmes on HIV and TB, and children coping with being orphaned. Train safety has also been featured as well as content on RDP housing.
The station has become somewhat of a breeding ground for television talent. Nine former SowetoTV cameramen now work for one of the commercial television stations.
On Sunday, even more young and aspirant television presenters and cameraman will have their turn to break in to the broadcasting industry.
The station will be broadcasting from one of the local schools and can be found on the UHF band after the eTV frequency, Botha said.
The station has partnered with the Sowetan Newspaper for newsfeeds and production company Urban Brew for content support and set building.
Botha said he hadn't secured any advertising yet, but that a lot of companies that had supported the station in the past have indicated that they'd like to get involved again.
SowetoTV is not the first community television station to be broadcast in the country.
Mike Aldridge, broadcast manager of Cape Town Community Television and an adviser on the community television co-ordinating committee said that there are two others, one in Cape Town, which plans to broadcast again in December, and another in Durban.
Greater Durban Television (GDTV) has had four special events broadcasts over the past 12 years.
Rhodes University's CueTV is yet another and broadcasts the National Arts Festival via a special events licence.
Loading ...