Communications: Subscription TV input deadline extended again

The deadline for comment on a subscription television broadcasting services inquiry draft findings document prepared by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has been extended again: to 4 October. The move was apparently prompted by the volume of ‘additional underlying documents’ released for public scrutiny following the announcement of the first deadline extension in June. Comments on the draft findings will be reflected in Icasa’s final position paper, which will determine the need for regulatory interventions, reports Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch.

Among other things, the document explores free-to-air television services (satellite and analogue), basic tier subscription services, viewing patterns, differences in content, broadband access and related costs, viewer experience, the upstream wholesale market, wholesale ‘must-offer’ obligations, barriers to market entry (including switching costs, brand loyalty, vertical integration, long-term exclusive contracts and their renewal), potential competition following digital migration, premium subscription television services, video-on-demand services, sports rights unbundling and splitting, set top box interoperability, access to Hollywood movies, and the ‘a la carte’ model.

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