TOPTV, now known as StarSat, is not yet out of trouble and its heavyweight international shareholder, StarTimes, says its ability to bail out the business has been constrained because of limits on foreign ownership. by Asha Speckman
StarTimes chairman Xinxing Pang said that although crucial progress to stabilise the holding company, On Digital Media, had been achieved through a business rescue process, the broadcaster had lost subscribers and the lengthy business rescue was still under way.
He said last week while on a visit to South Africa, that one of the reasons business rescue was protracted was that, by law, foreigners could hold only a 20% stake in South African broadcasting firms.
As a result, StarTimes could not be as hands-on as it would have wanted to be in the recovery of ODM. StarTimes does, however, hold a 65% economic interest in the company.
Pang called on the government to amend the cap on foreign shareholding.
StarTimes has not taken over. We are working as consultants. We've tried our best, he said through a translator.
But even though content had been expanded to include international sport and Indian and Chinese programming, and the quality had been enhanced, subscriber numbers had dropped, Pang said.
We've suffered a little bit ... We really hope we can change it when we go out of business rescue, he said.
We believe this [foreign shareholding cap] was made 20 years ago. We fully understand at that time it was to protect sovereignty and independence of this country. But as time has gone by there's been a lot of change in the industry.
Pang suggested that with digitalisation a new market entity which focuses on signal distribution could be created. He said content distribution could be owned by a local firm and the signal distributor could have foreign shareholding. This would introduce more capital into the country and help with digitalisation of the industry.
The government can continue to protect independence and have full control but capital and technology is necessary to speed up the development of the industry, Pang said.
Louis de Jager, a senior manager at PwC, said many countries capped foreign investment in the broadcasting sector to avoid abuse of platforms.
Pang said that elsewhere StarTimes was making strides, despite some interference from competitors, and had gained strong brand recognition in Tanzania. It operated in 13 countries.
About two months ago, StarTimes announced the construction of a $78-million (about R860-million), 20 000m centre in Kenya, which will house the group's Africa headquarters and a dubbing centre for film and TV. It will also offer digital TV research and development, film production and training.
The centre will be completed next year and will train recruits from South Africa once the business rescue was complete and StarTimes began hiring, Pang said. To date the group has invested more than $400-million in Africa and employs more than 3 000 people on the continent. It has more than four million subscribers, which is still about four million short of rival DStv, which is owned by MultiChoice, a Naspers subsidiary. Pang said StarTimes would invest in content and offered consumers set-top boxes with built-in high definition.
However, the pay-TV market was intensely monopolised , he said. Some sport content has become a luxury for the population.
About a year ago ODM and an individual consumer filed complaints with the Competition Commission against MultiChoice for snapping up exclusive multiyear rights to premium sports and other content. The commission has yet to finalise its investigation.
We hope legislation can assist to break the monopoly, Pang said.
Kate Skinner, an independent analyst, said competition regulations should be passed as soon as possible to ensure that the broadcasting landscape is more conducive to the surviving and thriving of new players .
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has started to address this with hearings into competition across the telecoms, broadcasting and information technology sectors.
http://www.bdlive.co.za
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
05/05/2026
SVG is proud to announce Warner Bros. Discovery's Techwood Studios in Atlant...
05/05/2026
With no operator required, AutoMic workflow automates talent identification on U...
05/05/2026
A crash in 2015 set the industry back, but this winter proved that drones are he...
05/05/2026
Another year, and more proof that Asia continues to shape some of the world's most exciting new sounds. This year's RADAR artists draw from deep local r...
05/05/2026
The Austin City Limits Music Fest 2026 lineup just dropped, and this year, Spoti...
05/05/2026
New drum machine book campaign incoming
Bjooks have announced that during Superbooth 2026, they will be launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund the product...
05/05/2026
Flagship all-in-one production bundle updated
The latest version of Native Instruments' flagship virtual instrument and plug-in bundle has just been ann...
05/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz to host RF Testing Innovations Forum 2026, helping design engine...
05/05/2026
L3Harris provides communications, electronic warfare, sensors and mission systems that enable Virginia-class submarine crews to operate with confidence in conte...
05/05/2026
The company grew by 7.6% in net revenue and 16.3% in EBITDA, achieving a 33% inc...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
TOPTV, now known as StarSat, is not yet out of trouble and its heavyweight international shareholder, StarTimes, says its ability to bail out the business has been constrained because of limits on foreign ownership. by Asha Speckman
