The South African Broadcasting Company (SABC) has suggested a list of changes that need to be made to its broadcasting regulations, which it believes will “continue effectively serving South Africa’s public interest programming needs”.
According to the SABC’s Head of TV Licenses Sylvia Tladi, the definition of a “TV set” or broadcasting device has to be broadened. Some of the devices that may fall under this definition may include:
– Laptops;
– Tablets;
– IPTV;
– Internet;
– Decoders;
– Set-top boxes and
– Smartphones.
Tladi believes that these devices have had a direct impact on TV license legislation.
“To ensure maximum compliance with legislative requirements concerning the payment of TV licence fees, the SABC proposes that the act should place stricter obligations on all relevant stakeholders or role players because the ‘traditional’ television set is no longer the only means of receiving a television broadcast,” she said.
“Therefore, to administer compliance on the payment of licence fees, the SABC is of the view that other entities must be compelled to report on the sale, lease or usage of these ‘television sets’ or ‘viewing devices’.”
“Furthermore, submitted regulations aim to make it obligatory for internet streaming and television streaming websites to pay a percentage of subscription fees to the SABC, where these websites stream SABC content,” she added.
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