SA's second pay-television operator TopTV has revealed it will provide three Playboy TV channels “in the near future”.
This comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the association of TopTV with Psat TV (Porn Satellite Television), a 24-hour “hard core adult entertainment” channel, in which TopTV vehemently denied any association or involvement.
TopTV did, however, confirm that its holding company On Digital Media (ODM) had recently submitted an application to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for three additional channels intended for the broadcast of adult content.
The pay-TV operator yesterday revealed it had concluded an agreement with Playboy TV to carry adult content on its service, and says it is “aware that adult content is a very sensitive subject”.
Because of this, says TopTV, the channels have been structured as an additional standalone package so that those who do not subscribe to the channels will not be exposed in any way to the content, electronic programme guide, or anything associated with the channels.
“The channels are fully encrypted. In actual fact, unless one makes a conscious decision to subscribe to the adult channels, there will be no change whatsoever to the current offering available on your TopTV decoder. Further, those who do choose to subscribe will be required to enter a separate unique PIN to unblock the channels each time they view. At all times, the channels will remain blocked.”
TopTV says it has exercised thorough consideration of families and children with the structuring of the Playboy package. “The principle behind this structuring of the bouquet is to allow maximum protection for children to inadvertent exposure to the content, as well as those adults who choose not to access these channels. We have looked into this from all possible angles and as people with families, we are very mindful of our subscribers.”
A relative newcomer to the market, having launched in May last year, the pay-TV provider adds that it will ensure its current and future subscribers' values are in no way compromised.
It says the move does not mean it is altering its focus to adult entertainment, which “remains but one of the genres that we incorporate into our bouquet”.
Plausible porn
TopTV says recent research laid bare a “definite market for adult content and channels among South African television viewers”.
“As a pay-TV operator, we are constantly reassessing the market. We have established that there is a niche market for such a service and are ensuring that we offer it to potential subscribers in a responsible and secure environment,” says TopTV's senior vice-president of sales and marketing Marius Liebenberg.
TopTV said in a statement: “While TopTV is not seeking to distance itself from its positioning as a family values oriented service provider, we view the additional channels within that context as well. As a business, we need to be alive to the desires of our existing and future client base, and we always aim to balance all competing interests. Stagnating to past statements will not serve changed needs from our clients or assist our growth.
“In a democratic society founded on a sound constitution, all individuals need to provide the requisite space for co-existence with other sectors of the society that may be different from each other. In that light, we do not see the provision of adult content as a compromise of our company image. Rather, it is a bold move fundamentally based on our constitution in a society which enshrines freedom of expression in its Bill of rights.”
TopTV says it is well aware there are those who will be opposed to adult content, but it needs to accommodate as many interests as possible. “[TopTV is] a subscription broadcaster catering for various niche audiences. That is why we have driving, cooking, music shows and many other genres of programming.”
Share