SA government wants streaming sites to provide more local content

The SABC and government try their finest to take more management over Netflix and Chill.

Government wants streaming sites to introduce a 30% local content quota, which to be truthful, will enhance South Africa’s leisure business and permit for more illustration within the media. However it’s unclear if that is consists of worldwide streaming companies too. If it’s and the companies reject it, bye bye Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video. 

This requirement is a part of the adjustments proposed within the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audio-Visual Content Services Policy Framework.

“The South African broadcasting system should reflect the identity and the multi -cultural nature of South Africa by promoting the entire spectrum of cultural backgrounds in South Africa,” mentioned Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. 

The SABC wants to prolong its definition of a TV set to embody various different units, in order that these basically may be charged underneath the TV Licence payment too. 

The licensing title will then be checked out as a broadcasting system. 

These units, listed under, have created new media platforms and content dissemination channels, which immediately have an effect on TV Licence laws, argues the SABC’s head of TV licences Sylvia Tladi. 

What the 30% quota entails 

Government haven’t but deciphered whether or not worldwide streaming companies will want to adhere to the quota.  

“These South African content obligations can apply in a cascading manner distinguishing between individual and class licensees and whether the service is public, commercial, or community/non-profit in nature and should not exceed 30% of the video catalogue,” mentioned Ndabeni-Abrahams in written responses to parliamentary questions from DA Deputy Chief Whip Michael Waters. 

Individual and sophistication licences

On-demand companies that had an annual turnover of R50-million to R99-million within the earlier monetary 12 months will want to file for a category licence. 

Those companies which have turned over R100-million or more within the earlier monetary 12 months want to apply for an working licence. 

Netflix will then want to apply for a licence to function in South Africa however streaming large YouTube won’t. 

However, YouTube will not be within the clear fully. The streaming platform may have to adhere to local laws that features guidelines round hate speech, incitement to violence and safety of minors.

What the SABC wants to embody

The SABC wants to develop the definition of a TV, which can make sure that those that use different units for leisure don’t slip by way of with out having a TV licence. These embody: 

• Laptops
• Tablets
• IPTV
• Internet
• Decoders
• Set-top packing containers
• Smartphones