TopTV's holding company, On Digital Media (ODM), will not appeal any decision by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) with regards to the broadcasting of pornographic material, when the authority's verdict is revealed within the next nine days.
According to investment company Kopano Ke Matla, a shareholder in TopTV, the ODM board of directors assembled a meeting last Wednesday in which the issue of adult channels, among others, was put on the table. It was subsequently determined that implicated parties, ODM and shareholders, would “let ICASA complete the process and make a final decision”.
On Friday, Kopano Ke Matla CEO Collin Matjila responded to a letter issued to the company by the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) the previous day. The letter condemned TopTV's planned pornography channel launch and Kopano Ke Matla's inherent association with what it said would “exploit and demean women and girls... encourage the abuse of women”.
The written response read: “The majority view [following the meeting] (including Kopano) was the same as expressed in your letter. However, due to potential financial/contractual consequences with the content suppliers, it was agreed that we let ICASA complete the process and make a final decision.”
In response to Cosatu's directive that Kopano Ke Matla demand TopTV abandons its adult channel plans, and disinvest from the company should it refuse, Matjila said it had been noted, and the investment company would “abide accordingly should this become necessary”.
Controversy and widespread debate surrounding the broadcasting of pornographic material on local satellite TV has been blazing since September last year, when TopTV announced it had signed an agreement with UK-based Playboy TV/Benelux to air three 24-hour adult channels via a standalone subscription service. The issue is expected to be laid to rest when ICASA announces its decision to either grant or deny TopTV's application, on or before 31 January.
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