An expected head-to-head battle between local pay-TV newcomers On Digital Media (ODM) and Super5Media has been put on hold until next week.
The companies were supposed to face off in the South Gauteng High Court last week, where ODM had filed an urgent interdict to prevent its competitor from launching until a review of its licence could be heard.
However, according to ODM's head of regulatory affairs, Dimitri Martinis, the case has been postponed until next week.
ODM's gripe is that all other pay-TV hopefuls were put through rigorous scrutiny by the regulator, having to submit extensive documentation on funding and shareholders, while Super5Media was awarded the licence based on previous owner Telkom Media's submissions.
The company has also filed a review application with the regulator in the hopes that Super5Media will face the same inspection as all the pay-TV licensees.
However, Super5Media director Tian du Pisanie has called the court application frivolous and opportunistic, and is contesting the case. He says the company has complied with all the regulatory and legal stipulations required of it.
“We are happy to meet the obligations of the licence. All we want to do is bring competition and choice to South African viewers,” he noted.
The South African consumer will hope to see an end to the court action as soon as possible, since both companies were set to launch products to compete with MultiChoice's DSTV, which has long held a monopoly in the country.
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