South Africa’s Super 5 Media requests pay-TV launch delay
Rebecca Hawkes ©RapidTVNews | 05-01-2012Super 5 Media has requested another extension to launch a new pay-TV service in South Africa, three years after being awarded a license from the country's communications regulator.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) says it has received applications from Super 5 Media, formerly known as Telkom Media, to delay the launch date of its "individual subscription television broadcasting service operations."
The Centurion-based company has requested a further six month extension to launch its service, with a 12 month extension to its network license to enable it to build infrastructure.
After its conception, the company's original controlling shareholder Telkom sold the business to the Shenzhen Media SA consortium, controlled by Imbani Media. The organisational changes at the have already led to the request of four launch date extensions.
Of four companies awarded broadcast licenses in competition with MultiChoice DStv, only On Digital Media has since launched a satellite subscription service, called TopTV. Walking on Water Television (Wow TV) is still reportedly planning to launch a service, while the e.tv-owned e.sat is now providing a 24-hour news service on the DStv platform instead.
Interested parties have been given until 28 January to give written responses to Icasa regarding Super 5 Media's application, according to the Government Gazette.
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