In South Africa, state-owned broadcasting signal distributor Sentech has less than three months to distribute and install 220,000 set-top boxes for qualifying low-income households ahead of the analogue television switch-off deadline on March 31, 2025. This deadline was extended by Communications Minister Solly Malatsi in December, allowing an additional three months for the distribution of government-subsidized set-top boxes.
Sentech has indicated that its ability to fulfill this mandate depends on information from the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (Usaasa). “The stock is logged on Usaasa’s balance sheet. Sentech is tasked as the implementing agency, responsible for distributing the set-top boxes and providing project management,” the company stated.
The distribution process hinges on the availability of beneficiary registration details. Once a beneficiary is verified, their information is sent to Sentech, which appoints installers for setup.
Despite Sentech’s role, Usaasa remains obligated to fund the initiative, which includes procuring set-top boxes and covering warehousing and installation costs, as confirmed by a Usaasa spokesperson.
In December, Minister Malatsi stated that approximately 467,000 households had registered for the government’s set-top box subsidy program. However, it’s unclear if the 220,000 available devices directly correspond to the registered households, raising concerns about the potential shortfall.
Even if all registrations are processed on time, a larger issue looms. At public hearings held by Icasa regarding the review of digital migration regulations last June, eMedia Holdings CEO Khalik Sherrif highlighted that about 4.5 million South African households will still depend on analogue television for free-to-air channels after the switch-off due to the unaffordability of necessary digital equipment.
Sherrif warned that losing a significant portion of the TV viewership could jeopardize the livelihoods of eMedia and SABC employees. Media monitoring organizations like Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and the SOS Coalition have echoed his concerns, labelling the situation as an “existential crisis” for the public broadcaster.
William Bird, executive director of MMA, emphasized that restricting the audience would effectively undermine the SABC’s primary revenue source, potentially threatening the jobs of thousands within the organization. This situation arises as the SABC grapples with a funding crisis, compounded by the withdrawal of the contentious SABC Bill from Parliament last November. Minister Malatsi explained that the bill failed to adequately address the SABC’s funding model.
“We must find the right solution for the SABC’s funding model. There is a broad consensus that the current bill doesn’t resolve that, so we shouldn’t move forward with it,” Malatsi remarked in an interview with TechCentral last November.
While some view the distribution of set-top boxes as the main obstacle to successful digital migration in South Africa, others, like eMedia’s Sherrif, argue that delays in implementing digital broadcasting have positioned the country for a potential leapfrog in technology.
