The television decoders that the government proposes introducing — which viewers will have to buy to view free channels — will not be used by the SABC as a means of cutting off people who have not paid their TV licence fees.<\/p>\n
A furore over the SABC’s alleged plans to “control” the new decoders has erupted between the public broadcaster and free-to-air broadcaster e.tv. <\/p>\n
The government plans to introduce the decoders in November as broadcasting moves from the analogue to the digital format.<\/p>\n
The free-to-air broadcaster has written to the department of communications warning that the SABC wants “conditional access” to be built into the decoders. <\/p>\n
e.tv claims that SABC viewers who have not paid for their licence will be cut off and will lose access to e.tv.<\/p>\n
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said that the state broadcaster had made submissions to the Independent Communications Authority about the decoders , but denied that it intended using the decoder as a punitive tool. <\/p>\n
Kganyago said: “We never said we are going to switch off viewers who have defaulted on paying their TV licence.” <\/p>\n
Kganyago said he was unable to elaborate on the contents of the SABC’s submissions to the communications authority.<\/p>\n
“I am not able to talk about our submissions before Icasa has had the opportunity to look at them. <\/p>\n
“We will never switch off anyone. That is not our intention. We don’t operate like private broadcasters.” <\/p>\n
Vasili Vass, a spokesman for e.tv, acknowledged the necessity for the change from analogue to digital format but, said the free-to-air station believes the SABC has asked for conditional access and, if it were granted, viewers would be cut off.<\/p>\n
Vass said: “This is contrary to free TV in South Africa: that’s our main objection.<\/p>\n
“This will give a third party power to decide whether you can watch free-to-air television.”<\/p>\n
This was especially unfair to poorer communities, Vass said.<\/p>\n
Icasa spokesman Sekgoela Sekgoela said: “We are awaiting a directive from the department.”<\/p>\n