Etv is likely to be the only broadcaster to offer mobile TV, before the kick off of the Fifa soccer world cup next month.
In a surprise announcement that has many in the industry up in arms, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) this afternoon said that three of the four applications for licences have been disqualified for not following the instructions in the invitation to apply (ITA).
Multichoice Africa, Super5Media, The Mobile TV Consortium, and etv all made applications to the regulator in a rush submission when ICASA fast tracked the application process.
The ITA was issued on 16 April, giving broadcasters only thee weeks to submit a full business plan, technical specification and gather the R70 000 application fee.
ICASA chairman Paris Mashile explained that the Mobile TV Consortium did not have a broadcast licence, which is a requirement for the application and that was why the authority disqualified it. According to Mashile, Multichoice did not submit its application to the regulator in time, disqualifying it from the process.
Super5Media submitted its application on time, However, it did not bind nine of the 25 copies of its submission, making it ineligible to proceed with the process.
Mashile said that etv was the only broadcaster to have everything in on time and it will now be awarded a licence to broadcast mobile TV.
Super5Media director Tiaan Du Pisane said that the company would take ICASA's decision under advisement. The company was recently awarded one of the four new pay-TV broadcast licences.
At the hearing this afternoon, Mobile TV Consortium chairman Mothobi Mutloatse said that he will take ICASA's decision to the board and then make a decision on how to proceed.
After the announcement, several broadcasters' representatives joked that the matter will probably end up in the courtroom.
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