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Cape Town TV in dire straits

Nicola Mawson
By Nicola Mawson, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 09 Oct 2012

A small community television station in Cape Town is trying to stave off having to retrench staff after it lost half its viewership, because the channel it was on was reallocated for digital TV.

Cape Town TV (CTV) was moved from channel 38 to channel 67, in March, to accommodate digital TV trials in the area, explains station manager Karen Thorne. However, the new frequency is not suitable, as its reach is limited and viewers had to purchase more expensive aerials and boosters, she says.

As a result, the station saw its viewer numbers drop from 1.3 million to 663 000, which "just about put CTV out of business", says Thorne. She says it is difficult for the non-profit organisation to get advertising and sponsorship to sustain itself when its numbers have halved.

Begging for help

CTV approached the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) several months ago, asking to be moved to channel 32, which is more suitable, notes Thorne. Despite its request and Sentech's recommendation that the station shift, no assistance has been forthcoming, she adds.

However, ICASA says CTV was given a response to its letter and the matter was formally referred to the Joint Spectrum Advisory Group (JSAG) for advice on a long-term solution during and after dual-illumination.

The regulator says the solution will look at, among other things, a change-management strategy for the "exploitation and removal of the constraints that could be impending CTV's reception and viewership numbers".

"A formal response from JSAG on this matter will be communicated soon."

The station was founded by over 200 non-profit organisations in 2006, and has about 26 employees and around 100 volunteers that assist with production. Thorne says it is currently in a "very tenuous" situation and has only been able to survive thanks to sponsorships.

Thorne says the channel shift has brought the station to its knees and led to its stagnation. It also came at a time when CTV was starting to become more attractive to advertisers, because it had grown its viewership to more than a million, she adds.

CTV is "literally eking out a subsistence from one month to the next," says Thorne, adding that it may reach a point at which it will have to left staff go. The station is "running out of options", she says.

The channel provides opportunities for volunteers and interns who have video production skills to hone and develop their abilities. It also provides opportunities for NGOs, community organisations, educational institutions, sports groups and government to produce programming in partnership with video producers to inform, entertain and educate the people of Cape Town.

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