OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 6.00pm.
PRIVATE television consortium Midi is reportedly embroiled in fall-out between shareholders over equity and mounting tension at senior management level, just over a month before it is set to launch its free-to-air television, e.tv, on October 1.
Unconfirmed reports on Friday indicated that some key players of the consortium met in Johannesburg to address the dispute.
Spokeswoman Johanna McDowell said all issues of concern including equity arrangements and staff configurations will be discussed at a future meeting. She did not give a date for the meeting. McDowell, however, emphasised that plans were still on track to launch e.tv on October 1. “Everything is on track, and whatever problems or concerns are being raised will not affect the launch of e.tv,” she said.
Independent Broadcasting Authority earlier in the year awarded Midi, led by a licence to operate South Africa’s first private free-to-air television station.