Super 5 Media mum on plans
Super 5 Media, formerly known as Telkom Media, recently received from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) another six month extension to launch commercial pay-TV services.
This is the third extension given to the beleaguered company and gives them until the end of August 2011 to begin broadcasting a television signal.
The company was granted their first extension in February 2010 and a second in August 2010. ICASA explained that the August 2010 extension was granted to Super 5 Media based on their written submission which argued that they had been delayed due to their license not being finalised.
According to ICASA the license applied for was an Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) license which would allow Super 5 Media to provide its own signal distribution service.
It is unclear what Super 5 Media plans to do with the extension as media reports last year suggested that Super 5 Media had all but collapsed, retrenching some employees and sending others home on unpaid leave.
Muhammad Lockhat, who was appointed director of Super 5 Media, declined to comment on Super 5 Media’s future. “We are not yet in a position to disclose our plans,” Lockhat said.
ICASA evaded questions about why Super 5 Media had been granted a third extension.
“The Authority decided to grant Super 5 Media an extension after taking into account the submission made by the company to the Authority regarding the matter,” was ICASA’s only comment.
On the topic of the new deadline and whether Super 5 Media had indicated that they are able to launch services by August 2011, ICASA said, “The Authority expects the company to launch on or before the end of the extension that has been granted.”
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