eMedia, the owner of eTV, has declared that digital terrestrial television (DTT) in South Africa is a failed initiative. The company advocates for a shift towards direct-to-home (DTH) television, citing it as a more practical, scalable, and cost-effective option, as outlined in its formal commentary to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) regarding the proposed DTT regulations.
According to eMedia, DTT has struggled to gain traction in South Africa and is becoming increasingly irrelevant globally. They argue that DTH presents a more viable pathway to achieving universal access, particularly with integrating emerging technologies such as 5G broadcasting.
In response to the draft regulations to update the existing rules, eMedia argues that any revisions before the analogue switch-off are premature. They assert that the current regulations are outdated and that dismissing the analogue switch-off in light of technological advancements would allow a focus on new technologies, such as DTH and 5G.
“The draft regulations are narrowly focused on DTT,” eMedia noted, pointing out that this focus fails to acknowledge the actual state of digital television in South Africa. They highlighted the sluggish adoption of the DTT platform compared to its DTH counterpart, stating, “The DTT platform has proven to be unsuccessful.”
eMedia also raised concerns regarding the ongoing challenges associated with the analogue switch-off, including insufficient registration and installation of government-subsidised set-top boxes (STBs). The broadcaster concluded that the future of DTT is uncertain and, in their view, no longer tenable.
Regarding their stance on STB registration, eMedia encourages viewers to consider switching to Openview at their own expense. They warned that E-TV broadcasts may appear unclear or disappear altogether for those still using an analogue signal. “To continue watching E-tv and your favourite free-to-air channels, you need to switch to Openview,” they stated.
This raises concerns as the article does not address how low-income households can access subsidised STBs. The Openview decoder is priced at R799, excluding installation fees.
The Pretoria High Court recently postponed the analogue switch-off deadline previously set for 31 March 2025. The court has prohibited Communications Minister Solly Malatsi from progressing with the switch-off and ending dual illumination—the concurrent broadcasting of analogue and digital signals—which incurs significant costs for Sentech, the state-owned signal distributor.
The SABC and eMedia have expressed concern that Sentech’s nationwide fees for transmitting their terrestrial TV signals are excessively high. eMedia and organisations such as Media Monitoring Africa and the SOS Coalition initiated the legal challenge against the analogue switch-off.
During court proceedings, Malatsi’s representative, Kennedy Tsatsawane, argued that eMedia’s actions do not genuinely prioritise the needs of poorer communities, citing promotional messages similar to those discussed in the Openview article.
Tsatsawane claimed, “E-tv’s litigation appears less about advocating for the poor and more about its commercial interests.” He highlighted that arrangements had been made for broadcasters and Sentech to disseminate messages nationwide regarding the analogue switch-off, raising concerns about E-TV’s chosen method of communication.
The information E-tv requested to be relayed suggested that the analogue service would no longer be available and directed viewers to purchase an Openview decoder from local retailers. Tsatsawane pointed out that the government has subsidised STBs for economically disadvantaged households, underscoring the absence of alternatives for viewers unable to afford the Openview option.
“There’s no explanation for this, which supports the view that commercial rather than social concerns may drive their motives,” he concluded.
