South Africa - Current situation - History
31.01.2012
MobileTV has completed the technical tests of DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) in the Gauteng ‘much earlier, much robustly and equally successfully’, according to its founder and chairman Dr Mothobi Mutloatse. In August 2011, MobileTV submitted a technical report and an initial request towards formalising its application for a permanent commercial license.
MobileTV PTY has teamed up with SABC, the public service broadcaster in the country. SABC reaches 76% of the population daily and is by far the biggest broadcaster with 4000 employees. It is partially financed by a TV license, partially by ads.
SABC will provide their two main TV channels as well as a Sport channel and a News channel, both made in cooperation with MobileTV PTY. A horse racing company will add one channel whereas the official South African lottery company will have one gambling channel. MobileTV PTY has secured a number of sports rights in order to add to those owned by SABC.
The government of South Africa is looking at its media strategy, and has indicated a need to launch its own TV channel. This will be broadcast via MobileTV PTYs network.
The last TV channel will be an ‘on-demand’ one where attractive content can be watched live or stored on the device for later viewing. That brings the total number of mobile TV channels to 8.
MobileTV PTY is furthermore in dialogue with the Department of Education to evaluate whether the technology can be used for educational purposes, especially in order to reach rural schools and colleges in a cost effective manner. The Department is primarily interested in the abilities of data transfer, but an educational TV channel has not been ruled out.
MobileTV PTY sees big possibilities for interactivity for mid-end and high-end devices with a return channel via Wi-Fi or 3G. This particularly applies to the channels for horse racing and betting, although also to a lesser degree for votes, quizzes and touch screen advertisements.
Radio
SABC will offer their 18 radio channels. MobileTV PTY wishes to also offer distribution for private radio stations following the launch.
03.09.2011
MobileTV has completed the technical tests of DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) in the Gauteng ‘much earlier, much robustly and equally successfully’, according to its founder and chairman Dr Mothobi Mutloatse.
In August 2011, MobileTV submitted a technical report and an initial request towards formalising its application for a permanent commercial license.
20.08.2010
South Africa is not yet running a commercial DAB/DMB/DAB+ system, but has been running a DAB pilot under a test license for some time. This trial multiplex is operated by Sentech and broadcasts to the Johannesburg aread.
Migration to digital terrestrial television is scheduled for November 2011. Due to the intensive usage of Band III spectrum by television there is currently no scope for DAB/DMB transmissions in South Africa. Once Band III is cleared of analogue TV transmissions, it is envisaged that licensing of digital radio will begin.