The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) seeks to replace TV licenses with new funding mechanisms, with plans to collaborate with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and MultiChoice.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation Bill, introduced to Parliament in October 2023 and revived in July, aims to repeal the Broadcasting Act 1999, regulate the SABC’s existence, provide governance, and amend related acts. However, the initial bill failed to address SABC’s financial woes, leaving many people concerned.
The SABC’s proposal includes the introduction of a device-independent levy on households, as it aims to move away from TV licenses, which are considered unenforceable. This levy would be based on the ability to access SABC services rather than the actual use of those services, providing sustainable funding for its public service mandate and local content production.
SARS is suggested as the collection authority for the household levy, while another potential collection mode involves collaboration with dominant subscription broadcasters like MultiChoice. The SABC is also looking to access the Universal Service Fund (USAF) and receive supplementary funding from government departments to support its public service mandate.
The SABC is exploring alternative funding models to address its financial challenges and sustain its operations.
