M-Net’s open-time window will close in April 2007, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) ruled on Thursday.
It ruled in favour of closing the open-time window, saying this is in line with a policy framework set out in its position paper on subscription services. The framework was launched in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation reported that Nadia Bulbulia, a councillor for Icasa, said the decision followed months of deliberations regarding amendments to the pay-per-view television’s broadcasting licence.
She said the move is meant to level the subscription broadcasting playing field.
”[The open-time window] was an open two hours that a subscription broadcaster had when it actually competed for the same audiences as a free-to-air service,” Bulbulia said.
”This was very unfair in a subscription market but, most importantly, goes against the policy that we have now set.
”What we’re ultimately saying is that subscription services would not have access to free-to-access open-air windows, so they would not be competing with other free-to-air broadcasters. It’s about drawing a distinct line between free-to-air commercial and subscription commercial broadcasters.” — Sapa