The South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC's) plans to introduce two new free-to-air stations are closely linked to the nation's digital migration strategy, and the planned new SABC 4 and 5 channels will not be available on the analogue signal.
This is according to Phil Molefe, GM for international affairs at the broadcaster, who said on the sidelines of Grahamstown's Highway Africa conference yesterday: "Why start new channels on the analogue platform when the technology will soon be changing?"
He said the SABC's plans for SABC 4 and 5 - where one service will cover the northern regions and one the southern regions - are strongly linked to signal distributor Sentech's plans to begin migration to a digital platform in 2008.
Although SABC 4 and 5 are only working titles, it is possible that these will be the names of the new TV services. Molefe said the new stations would help to "ensure the SABC better achieves its public mandate with regard to languages".
Each station should carry a mix of languages local to the area, and Molefe added the broadcaster may source content from throughout the continent. "We're looking largely at South African content, but, also, in pursuit of Nepad goals, African content as well."
Speaking at the event, SABC CEO Dali Mpofu said the broadcaster would have to be careful in deciding how to go about establishing regional channels.
"We have to take into account the historical context - in the past languages have been used to divide up the nation into Bantustans," he told delegates.
The SABC's broader social policy, he added, is to undermine that, and any regional TV plans should not contradict this policy.
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