Unfortunately the fundamental differences between Free-to-Air (FTA) broadcasters and PayTV broadcasters makes this impossible.

In short, the FTA DTT migration could be very compelling for the public if we have sufficiently compelling local and other content. The fact that we currently only have 3 SABC services and one eTV service is not compelling enough. And here you are correct, no one is going to rush out and buy DTT Set-top Boxes (STBs) if this is the content they are going to get for the foreseeable future. In my experience, content has always been the key.

But the problem is much bigger than this. DOC wants Sentech to manage the security system (STB Control) and have chosen Nagra conditional access (CA) to use as encryption / security technology to protect the STBs. Sentech already has a Nagra license. However, eTV mainly, and SABC to an extent (they dont really have much say being part of the DOC and thus the Gov), are against Sentech managing the STB Control system. And rightfully so in my opinion, as eTv (and SABC) would have no control over the cost of the STB Control system, and therefore could not manage their businesses effectively and profitably. Add to this the fact that there is considerable uncertainty as to the allocation of bandwidth on the multiplexes (MUXs), and suddenly current and new FTA broadcasters are severely disadvantaged, not knowing if the can roll out new digital services, how many services, and not having control over critical cost elements. And here is the issue, FTA broadcasters rely mainly on advertising revenue, and without certainty on how to retain and attract advertisers, they will be in trouble.

As if this was not a big enough problem, some lobby groups (and these are known), are pushing the SABC / DOC at their executive levels, to reopen the STB Control issue and force them to reissue the RFP for STB Control. Well, if this happens, we can write off another year or so to get new tenders done, and add legal action from grieved parties to this, we might as well just abandon the DTT program altogether.

Whilst all of this is happening, the only winners are MultiChoice, slowly eating away at the FTA market customers, costing eTV, SABC, and any new FTA entrants so called ‘eyeballs’.

The losers are all of us, because what no one wants to raise is the frequency spectrum that is being occupied by analogue TV. While analogue TV occupies this valuable spectrum, no new broadband services can be brought to market that will enable more households to have access to the Internet, which will bridge the digital divide between the poorer households and the middle and upper class. Maybe there is no political will to do this quickly, for what ever reasons, but this is a serious issue that needs serious debate. This spectrum, once freed up, is worth billions (just research what was paid for this spectrum in the USA and UK by private companies), and can bring much needed capital to the country.

So, here we are, 6 or more years down the line, and no DTT migration yet. While our decision makers are at loggerheads with various stakeholders, the rest of Africa is getting on with the task. Soon we will be way behind them, and then we must not blame investors for taking their money to Kenya and Uganda, and Ghana, and the likes, and give SA a cold shoulder.