The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has set a target date of 31 October to turn on digital television.
SA is migrating to digital TV using the European DVB-T2 standard and switch-on had been set for September, with analogue turn off within two years. However, it seems this date has been moved out another month.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago says the broadcaster is targeting 31 October to turn on digital TV.
Kganyago adds once digital television is turned on, viewers can expect better picture and sound quality. Moving from analogue to digital will allow the SABC an opportunity to have more channels and more variety in terms of content, he adds.
Last September, the broadcaster said moving to digital television will enable it to offer 17 TV channels - including SABC 1, 2 and 3, a 24-hour news channel, a sports offering, 18 radio stations and an interactive video service.
CTO Richard Waghorn said the cost of content, without the news and sports channels, will come to R1.6 billion. The broadcaster has budgeted R90 million for marketing, and R145 million for a “digital playoff” or control centre, over the same period, he says.
Not talking
Kganyago says the broadcaster already has hi-tech equipment and does not have to replace all its infrastructure. For example, it has high-definition vans and camera equipment.
However, Kganyago will not reveal how much capital is required, nor exactly what equipment needs to be replaced. “The SABC will not discuss the costs at this stage, as the project is still under way as we finalise all aspects of the launch.”
In March, acting deputy DG of finance and ICT enterprise development at the Department of Communications (DOC), Sam Vilakazi, said funds made available since 2008 to the DOC and state-owned entities involved in the digital transmission project had not been sufficient.
Additional funds requested by the DOC, Sentech and the SABC had not been approved by National Treasury, despite motivations, said Vilakazi.
Only R138 million of the R7.3 billion requested by the SABC was allocated, Vilakazi said. He pointed out that additional funding would be requested.
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