NATIONAL NEWS - Petitions opposing government’s plans to extend TV license fees to streaming services such as Netflix and Showmax have been gaining traction.
This after Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams published the draft white paper on the Audio and Audio-Visual Content Services Policy Framework: A New Vision for South Africa 2020, which has given South Africans until February to voice their opinion.
The draft seeks to change the current law, which requires South Africans to pay a TV license fee for viewing broadcasting services – which in the traditional sense, is limited to a TV set.
It proposes that the definition of “broadcasting services” be broadened to include streaming services whether on a TV set or a phone to help with the SABC’s financial woes.
“This draft white paper proposes that government must put in place legislation provisions for a transitional framework for conversion of existing licences to the new AAVCS licensing framework where required.
“Where any person before the change in the licensing framework lawfully provided a service without requiring a licence they will have permission to continue to do so until the regulator has granted or refused a license application,” reads part of the draft.
Read full draft here
