The IBA report will precipitate a rush for satellite=20 television. Neil Bierbaum reports
THE rush for satellite television is on. If the=20 Independent Broadcasting Authority reports stands –=20 bringing a two-year wait before South Africa gets a=20 private terrestrial television station — new=20 broadcasters will take to the skies.
This is the implication of the report released this=20 week by the IBA into the future of the public=20 broadcaster. The IBA proposed that the SABC lose one of=20 its channels by the end of 1997 and gain a satellite=20 channel then.
On this recommendation, South Africa will only get a=20 non-SABC terrestrial channel in January 1988.
This is a boon for satellite television, which will=20 have over two years in which to establish its=20 programming and audience with only limited competition.
The delay is certain to be the focus of debate.=20 Telecommunications Minister Pallo Jordan signalled this=20 from the outset by saying he was ”concerned that the=20 delay in introducing the private terrestrial channel=20 might over-protect the SABC and defeat the disciplinary=20 aims of regulated competition”. Jordan added that he=20 was ”not at all comfortable with the proposal on the=20 SABC’s channels” and wanted Parliament to examine the=20 IBA’s recommendations closely.
David Dison of Media and Broadcasting Consultants=20 welcomed the report ”as a major step forward in=20 establishing a diversity of voices”.
But he described the television proposals as worrying.=20 ”As I see it, the problem with the delay is that it=20 will have the tendency to weaken free-to-air television=20 against satellite broadcasting,” he said.
SABC chief executive Zwelakhe Sisulu also spoke=20 strongly against the loss of a channel.=20
”I think IBA has done a reasonable job, given the time=20 they had and the constraints placed upon them in=20 getting the information they needed,” says Jonathan=20 Procter, former director-general of Bop Broadcasting=20 Corporation. ”It has not taken a populist position.=20 Previous reports on broadcasting in South Africa were=20 laden with compromise. It is perfectly understandable=20 that the SABC should be given two years to prepare=20
He believes there will still be opportunities for=20 terrestrial broadcasters, although he agrees that the=20 report could precipitate a rush for satellite=20
Quentin Green, former chief executive: television at=20 SABC and now with Free to Air, an outfit which — as=20 its name suggests — is to apply for a terrestrial=20 television licence, says, ”Our general comment is that=20 the report looks very good. We do agree with the SABC=20 that it should retain three channels. We also think the=20 entire process should be speeded up. As it stands it=20 opens the door for foreign broadcasters to come in via=20
Green adds that they are not considering the satellite=20 option at all. ”We are still looking at an advertiser- supported full-spectrum channel.
Yet the prospects for regional television might have=20 been significantly enhanced as a result of the IBA=20 report. Such regional television could take the form of=20 regional windows within the national public=20 broadcasting service (NPBS), although there is also the=20 possibility that the new private commercial channel=20 could be a network of regional stations.
The report suggests that because of the high cost of=20 television, a regional service should fall to the NPBS.=20 According to the report, ”financial analysis done for=20 the authority suggested that the new private channel to=20 come on line in 1998 could not profitably be divided=20 into two or three regional stations, even with=20 extensive networking and sharing of costs.” According=20 to an IBA official, however, the opportunity still=20 exists for a regional commercial broadcaster to apply=20 for a licence to broadcast.=20
This decision would hinge on whether the regional=20 station could prove its viability.=20
The report acknowledges that ”regional television could=20 draw on a whole layer of advertising that has not and=20 will not be available to national television”. It adds=20 that this would encourage the decentralisation of=20 television production.
Nick Taylor, who has the CityTV franchise — a regional=20 TV station based in Toronto, Canada — for South=20 Africa, believes that regional TV is viable if done=20 appropriately. ”We can set up stations with 10 or 15=20 people,” he says. ”TV doesn’t have to be high cost=20 glamour … All you need are good people who are=20 passionate about what they are doing.”
The report recommends that regional windows of one hour=20 a day be provided for on television. This is expected=20 to cost R122-million a year. It is proposed that=20 Parliament should foot the bil.”Regional windows within=20 the public broadcast service would not fulfill the=20 needs of the provinces. They would be controlled from=20 the centre,” says Taylor.
This view was also held by Bop Broadcasting Corporation=20 director-general Solomon Kotane. BopBC had hopes of=20 providing a national backbone service to regional=20 broadcasters, who could then slot in their own=20 programming as and when it became available. But many=20 of the regions have not yet defined their needs in=20 terms of a regional public broadcaster and many do not=20 have facilities.=20
”We don’t have an ex-homeland broadcaster and it would=20 be expensive to set up the facility,” says Narina=20 Riskowitz, acting head of communications for KwaZulu- Natal. She adds that they would encourage the licensing=20 of a private broadcaster foor the region.
Whether it grants a licence to one national channel or=20 a network of regional channels, it appears that the=20 licence which will be granted will be a full spectrum=20 rather than a thematic licence such as a sport or music=20
The report further specifies that ”in selecting=20 applicants for private licences, the authority will=20 make ownership and control by previously disadvanteged=20 South Africans an important criterion.” It may also=20 require broadcasters to serve sparsely populated as=20 well as densely populated areas, carefully weighing the=20 ”public interest and the financial implications”.
The IBA also intends to indicate minimum or threshold=20 requirements for specific programme categories. The=20 objective is that, ”viewed collectively, television is=20 catering to the needs of the public”.=20
This would in effect create certain public service=20 mandates for commercial broadcasters, requiring some=20 level of educational and informative programming at=20 ”appropriate” times. Subscription broadcasters are=20 ”expected to make a contribution to national=20 development along with all other broadcasting=20
With regard to community television, the report states=20 that ”the Authority recognises the importance of=20 community television and will endeavour to licence as=20 many of these as technological and financial capability=20