Icasa approves community TV
2004-12-03 18:55
Pretoria - The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa is to invite the public to apply for community television broadcasting licences next year, Icasa said on Friday.
Applicants are required to demonstrate community support, demand, capability, and the necessary expertise to establish and sustain a community television station, said Icasa spokesperson Pfanani Lishiva.
He said applicants would also be required to submit proof of funding and a business plan for the first term of the broadcasting licence, and be asked to demonstrate their product.
A position paper published by Icasa on Tuesday concerning public regional television services paved the way for the introduction of two public regional television services to be known as SABC4 and SABC5.
"This means that television broadcasting services will soon be offered at regional level," Lishiva said.
He said Icasa had decided to offer incentives to applicants to focus on broadcasting South African content and the production of documentaries, arts and children's programming.
Funding for these stations may come from grants, donations, or the Media Development and Diversity Agency said Lishiva, explaining that profits from eight minutes per hour of advertising would also help fund the stations.
There are currently no community television frequencies in metropolitan areas. Icasa expects that once South Africa "has migrated to a digital platform" frequencies would become available in metroplitan areas for use by community television broadcasting services.
- SAPA