According to industry reports, Sentech has turned off E-tv’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmissions, leaving only its analogue TV and streaming services available to viewers.
This move, resulting from E-tv’s failure to reach an agreement on the DTT Master Transmission Agreement (MTA) with Sentech, has significant implications for viewers. They have been advised to contact E-tv for more information or purchase an OpenView HD decoder to continue receiving E-tv services.
Some viewers have reported losing the E-tv DTT signal since February 2024 and have faced challenges in getting support from E-tv’s customer service. Meanwhile, eMedia has highlighted the significant difficulties broadcasters faced in negotiations with Sentech due to the latter’s dominance in the industry.
Additionally, concerns have been raised about the future viability of DTT in South Africa, citing the low number of DTT decoders installed and the challenges faced in distributing them to the public. E-tv’s owner, eMedia, believes that analogue terrestrial television will continue to coexist alongside DTT for the foreseeable future and has expressed scepticism about the feasibility of the DCDT’s deadline for the analogue switch-off by 31 December 2024.
These developments underscore the ongoing disputes and challenges faced by broadcasters, service providers, and regulatory authorities in the digital broadcasting landscape in South Africa.
