Icasa rejects five TV broadcasting licence applications

Icasa has refused five applications from companies seeking individual commercial free-to-air broadcasting licences.

Icasa said the parties were refused licences due to “non-compliance with the ITA and provisions of the ECA”.

The applicants were:

Medo Investments
Levoca 565 t/a Hola Media
Infinity Media Network
Rubicon Investments
Change TV Network

Infinity Media Network owns ANN7 – the news channel with links to the Gupta family.

Icasa said the non-compliance related to foreign ownership; finances; ownership by historically-disadvantaged persons; and cross media ownership that exceeds the regulatory provisions.

“The Council of the Authority has taken a decision that it will issue a new Invitation to Apply for an Individual Commercial Free-to-Air Television Broadcasting Service Licence,” said Icasa.

“However, prior to the publication of a new ITA, the Authority plans to run workshops on how to compile an application.”