The price of a set-top box (STB), which many South Africans will need to watch digital TV in future, will be around R400, deputy director-general of the Department of Communications (DoC), Themba Phiri, recently told the Select Committee for Labour and Public Enterprises.<\/p>\n
This is significantly less than the R700 STBs were expected to cost.<\/p>\n
Viewers that depend on Sentech\u2019s terrestrial broadcast received through a normal roof antenna or \u201cbunny ears\u201d will need an STB, and in some cases a new antenna, to continue watching TV.<\/p>\n
STB subsidies for South Africa\u2019s poorest citizens amounting to R940-million have been ring-fenced at the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa, Phiri said.<\/p>\n
Despite the lower STB cost, an additional R2.635-billion in subsidies was needed.<\/p>\n
Combined with the DoC\u2019s R800-million shortfall for its DTT awareness campaign, the SABC\u2019s technology upgrade, and Sentech\u2019s dual illumination requirements<\/a>, the total budget shortfall is around R7-billion, Phiri said.<\/p>\n Get ready to cough up R700, says communications minister<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Another R7bn needed for digital TV<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Deadline schmeadline: Digital TV and the DoC<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nRelated articles<\/h3>\n