BMA’s audio clip on “Digital Rights Management” featuring Kelious Mlenga, Deputy Director of Legal Consumer Affairs at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), was the most listened-to content on the BMA Platform in 2025. This record listenership underscores the industry’s profound concern over the unregulated landscape of Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The viral discussion, which originated from the Radio Broadcasting Convention Africa 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa, struck a chord with regulators, broadcasters, and media professionals seeking a level playing field in the digital age.
Key Takeaways Driving Record Listenership:
- The Regulatory Vacuum: Mr Mlenga highlighted the critical absence of a legal and regulatory framework for OTT streaming services in most SADC countries, noting that the sector is currently “just left for free.”
- Unfair Competition: The lack of regulation creates significant competitive disadvantages for licensed broadcasters. While licensed entities must comply with stringent obligations, including license fees, unlicensed streamers operate “anyhow” without these costly conditions.
- The Double Standard: The discussion highlighted the disparity in treatment between an unlicensed streaming-only service (Broadcaster A) and a licensed broadcaster that also streams (Broadcaster B). The latter faces more conditions, challenging the regulator’s mandate to ensure “health[y] competition in the industry.”
To listen to Mr Mlenga’s view, click on the link here.
