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MultiChoice, E.tv get mobile TV licences
THE Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on Friday said it had issued mobile TV licences to E.tv and MultiChoice, while several other applicants had been unsuccessful.
ICASA received applications from four media houses wishing to operate mobile TV in the country, among them Mobile TV Consortium and Super 5 Media. However, only the applications from MultiChoice and E-tv met the requirements in the long-awaited licensing process.
Addressing the media in Johannesburg on Friday, Icasa Chairman Stephen Mncube said Icasa had hoped to have the digital video broadcasting service operating during the historic 2010 Fifa World Cup in the country, but failed to meet the deadline.
“E.tv and MultiChoice did not have other competing bidders with respect to the multiplexes they applied for, as a result, the authority has decided to grant the licences to ETV and MultiChoice,” said Mncube.
He said the first three applicants were disqualified for failing to comply with the preliminary requirements according to the laid down mobile TV regulations.
TINTSWALO BALOYI
