This is a very significant development for our business and we have been working hard to ensure that we are ready to meet the submission deadline, says MultiChoice SA CEO, Nolo Letele.
 
In its licence submission, MultiChoice has focused on demonstrating that the company is able to operate a satellite and subscription business.
 
MultiChoice pioneered digital satellite television in Africa and set up from scratch, content provision and subscriber management services, initially with only 2344 subscribers. Today the company has over one million customers.
 
Says Letele: We have come a long way, and it has been an exciting but challenging journey. We launched with a handful of channels, and today MultiChoice broadcasts over 50 video and 60 audio channels 24 hours a day via our numerous bouquets. We have close to 700 employees in this country, and have created employment for many others in, for example, the previously non-existent decoder manufacturing industry.

Before the legislative changes in 1999, MultiChoice and other satellite broadcasting services were not required to hold a broadcasting licence. That changed in 1999, with the new Broadcasting Act requiring all broadcasters, including satellite services to have a licence.
 
This law, however, recognised that there already existing satellite services like MultiChoices DStv and Sentechs Vivid, and that these needed time to prepare for their licensing process. The law gave these services permission to continue operating until such time as Icasa was in a position to complete the regulatory and licensing framework for satellite broadcasters.
 
Icasa has now completed this framework, putting MultiChoice in the position to apply for its broadcast licence. The landscape will change, and we expect to see new players in this market. As a business we support and welcome competition, says Letele.
 
We believe that competition will ensure more choice and diversity of content for consumers, it will be good for the Pay-TV industry, and, most importantly, attract the necessary investment into the broadcasting industry and the SA economy, concludes Letele.