The feasibility of regional television (RTV) in South Africa : a study of the official process towards the issuing of licenses for RTV and subsequent developments

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This is a qualitative study on the question whether regional television can be feasible in SouthAfrica with particular reference to the official process to introduce regional television (RTV), thevarious reports and opinions on the subject, new technological developments and the explorationof alternatives. It is an effort to make a contribution towards the debate about how the publicbroadcaster can deliver better dedicated services to the diverse language groups of the countrywherever they live, while also keeping pace with the challenges of an ever changing globaldigital world.The study indicated that various public broadcasters internationally struggled to find afinancially viable model for regional television to serve diverse communities. The general optionwas the use of 'windows – specific limited time allocated on national networks for regionalbreak-aways. Yet, increasingly technology provided answers but still at a relative expensive feefor the average citizen. In South Africa the windows model was implemented for a limitedperiod between 1996 and 2003. It was discontinued because of lack of financial support from thestate.The researcher indicates how the process to implement regional television already startedwith transformation envisaged in the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act of 1993 through tothe Broadcast Amendment Act of 2003 instructing the SABC to apply within nine months to theIndependent Broadcasting Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for regional licenses that 'shouldreflect the diversity of all sections of the population and represent the plurality of views andopinions of the audience (ICASA, 2003a:11).ICASA published its Discussion Paper on Regional Television in September 2003 invitingcomments while emphasizing the importance of serving the various language groups andproviding local content. It recognised the problems concerning funding. Its Position Paper wasreleased in November 2003. ICASA clearly took the view that the introduction of regionalservices in the various (especially marginalised) languages were imperative and that it had to beoffered to the exclusion of English. The state had to fund the services while advertising wouldnot be permitted. The study was approached within the framework of normative mass media theories, and inparticular the developmental theory. Through content analysis the ICASA documents and theSABC's application for RTV in December 2003 was assessed and the stark points of differenceindicated, such as the use of English, local content (especially drama) and advertising income.By using the methodology of in-depth interviews and a social survey based on a structuredquestionnaire more information and perspective was gained.In its application for regional television the SABC suggested two channels for 10 indigenouslanguages in the nine provinces delivered through the outdated but cheaper analogue technology.Throughout 2004 ICASA and the SABC communicated in letters and at hearings to resolvedifferences without much success.The SABC's main concerns remained funding and the lack of capacity and skills to offerthe services required. ICASA decided in June 2005 to grant the SABC two regional licenseswithout issuing it until the funding issue could be resolved with the state. It relented to allowsome advertising but remained opposed to the use of English.Towards the end of the study the researcher gives an overview of the fast developinginternational trends in digital broadcasting. Various options to serve regional communities areoffered. News reports on international trends and the opinions of experts are then related to thesituation in South Africa. One conclusion is that the state and the country would have to weighup the cost of subsidising regional television to other pressing social needs of citizens. Itappeared that the cost would be too high in the short term. Preparations for the staging of the2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa might lay the foundation for more sophisticated andaffordable services later.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University