Pay-TV debate hots up

THE SA PAY-TV debate heated up last week with the news that Super5Media and the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) would face the South Gauteng High Court, over possible process discrepancies in the licensing of the Chinese-owned pay-TV applicant.

Super5Media started out as Telkom Media, with the fixed-line giant being the primary shareholder. The company changed hands in the middle of last year, with Chinese broadcaster Shenzhen Media buying out Telkom's share.

There has been confusion around the transfer of the licence and the company has faced many setbacks since it changed hands.

At the end of last year, local pay-TV would-be competitor On Digital Media (ODM) filed an urgent interdict at the court to prevent Super5Media from going ahead with its commercial launch. ODM hopes the court will grant the stay, which will allow it to proceed with a review of Super5Media's licence application.

Super5Media has been mum on the issue, only saying it will contest the court action. ICASA had not commented on the matter at the time of going to print.