Pay-TV newcomer On Digital Media (ODM) announced on Monday that it has received its broadcast licence, paving the way to go on air in the second half of 2009.
ODM is one of four new pay-TV services expected to arrive in South Africa within the next year.
The Independent Communications Authority South Africa announced the arrival of four new players last year. They include Telkom Media, which Telkom is currently trying to sell, and Walking on Water, a new gospel TV service. The fourth player is e.tv’s sister company, E-Sat, which has since transformed itself into a content provider on DStv in the form of a 24-hour news channel.
”This now puts us in a position to proceed with the development of our business model and to launch in the second half of 2009,” said ODM director Vino Govender.
ODM is planning to offer news, movies, music and children’s programmes.
”ODM management is engaged in advanced negotiations with numerous content and technical service providers which it could not conclude until the pay-TV broadcast licence was issued.
”Now that the regulatory element of the business has been finalised, it is in a position to do so. The operational side of the business will commence within the next 60 to 90 days,” added Govender. — Sapa