The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) wants to put regulations in place to expand the definition of a TV license to include services such as Netflix and DStv.
In a presentation to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications presented by Deputy Communications Minister Pinky Kekana, the public broadcaster explained that the existing definition of a TV license was outdated and needs to be adapted to include the latest technology.
The proposal was put forward to help the SABC improve its financial position which means an annual fee would be collected from non-television users.
Furthering the SABC’s cause, Kekana said non-television users are accessing the public broadcaster’s content through other devices and are therefore liable.
“Those who have been carrying the SABC programs on their Pay-TV, how do we through ICASA make sure that they too are able to assist us to collect TV licenses?”
However, Kekana added that it’s not just Pay-TV users who will be affected.
“We are not only limiting it to TV. We also have other platforms where people consume content. And in all of those areas, that is where we should look at how we are able to get SABC license fees from those gadgets.”
With the expected backlash in mind, Kekana urged people to think of the fee as mandatory traffic fine or motor vehicle license.
The SABC also called for the removal of the must-carry rule which required all subscription broadcasters with more than 30 channels to carry the SABC’s three free-to-air television channels.
So what will the cost look like for people who do most of their viewing on Netflix, ShowMax or satellite television?
Here’s a helpful cost breakdown for Netflix users courtesy of IOL.
- Netflix currently has three plans for South African viewers, ranging from R99 to R169 per month.
- A TV license in South Africa currently stands at R265 per year.
- First-time applicants for a television license must pay the full annual fee of R265 and renewals must be made annually before the license expires. Renewal payments may be spread throughout the year at R28 per month. Monthly payments are subject to a small premium for the convenience.
- Therefore it will cost approximately R336 per year to watch non-SABC content on a device other than a television.
I’m probably one of the few suckers paying their annual TV licence – just tired of them bothering me for it. Already I don’t consume any of the SABC services (not even radio). Now they want to increase this price to stream non-SABC content? I assumed the likes of Netflix, etc. are already paying licence fees to broadcast locally, this is just a double tax on the same service the SABC are not even providing to us.
No fucking way. This country is ridiculous.
Screw the SABC.
oh dear, another state-owned entity running out of cash so decided to ”fleece” the already over taxed population! Well they can take a running jump ..