The Council of the Unbiased Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has prolonged the session strategy of its Inquiry into the Subscription Broadcasting Providers Market into the present monetary yr.
The inquiry began in 2016, when the authority revealed a discover of its intention to conduct an inquiry into the state of competitors within the subscription broadcasting companies sector, and revealed its draft findings in April 2019.
“Upon contemplating the draft findings emanating from the inquiry, Icasa is of the view that additional session and engagement with stakeholders is required, as any regulatory intervention on this market should take account of present coverage developments, in addition to current technological and market developments, together with entry of complementary and aggressive companies launched by, amongst others, over-the-top (OTT) gamers,” stated Icasa chairperson Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng.
The draft findings recognized 4 retail and two wholesale markets, pertaining to the retail distribution of broadcasting and video-on-demand companies, and wholesale provide and acquisition of premium and non-premium content material in South Africa.
It revealed that competitors is ineffective in three of the recognized markets, specifically the retail distribution of basic-tier subscription tv companies and satellite-based free-to-air tv companies; the retail distribution of premium subscription tv companies; and the wholesale acquisition of premium content material for distribution in South Africa.
MultiChoice was discovered to own important market energy within the markets which can be characterised by ineffective competitors.
Additional, having thought-about the influence of OTT companies, Icasa discovered that these companies are increasing within the variety of new entrants and the size of operations, notably worldwide video-on-demand service suppliers, nonetheless, the influence of OTT is muted amid restricted entry to broadband and/or Web companies, the perceived excessive price of knowledge and low Web speeds.
Amid ongoing developments in a quickly altering market, Icasa’s session course of extension builds upon, and can replace and refine, the work that was undertaken throughout the 2021/22 monetary yr.
“Following the identification and definition of related markets and market segments, the empowering laws supplies that the authority should assess the effectiveness of competitors in these markets and market segments,” stated Modimoeng, noting that Icasa should think about issues such because the non-transitory (structural, authorized, and regulatory) boundaries to entry into the relevant markets or market segments and the dynamic character and functioning of the markets or market segments.
“The authority is conscious that any regulation of the market and/or its market segments have to be aimed toward enhancing competitiveness out there going ahead.”
The prolonged session course of will embody the publication of a questionnaire to solicit feedback and data from stakeholders.
The authority will conduct a full inquiry that features publication of an up to date dialogue doc, in addition to public hearings, to return to a conclusive dedication of the subscription TV market dynamics going ahead.
“The rebooting of this course of is supposed to allow the authority to take account of all related and present developments to tell a sturdy, forward-looking regulatory intervention that balances pursuits of customers and stability of the broadcasting companies market,” Modimoeng conluced.
