SABC partners with Telkom, launches new streaming channel

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in partnership with Telkom has launched a streaming channel called TelkomOne.

The channel will carry SABC channels and other content including comedy, lifestyle and music.

The five-year partnership is a first-of-its-kind digital carriage agreement for the broadcaster.

SABC, Telkom launch a new online streaming service:

SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe says the channel will help the SABC catch up with other broadcasters.

Madoda Mxakwe says: “Our five-year agreement with Telkom will see the SABC provide its content through Telkom channels for streaming to the end-user. We will avail a minimum of 1000 hours of video-on-demand content to Telkom, with a minimum of 10 content being replaced on a monthly basis to ensure relevance and freshness of the compelling content.”

He adds, “As part of our commitment, the SABC will provide a range of content from drama, sports as well as SABC archive material to Telkom.”

Viewers will have free access as well as paid access costing up to R49 per month.

TV licences 

Meanwhile, the public broadcaster says it has been misquoted on the issue of licence fees required from service providers such as Netflix.

A few weeks ago, the SABC said it wanted streaming services to be regulated. The SABC says it has never demanded that viewers of streaming services such as Netflix pay-TV licences.

SABC COO Ian Plaatjies explains, “The SABC has said DSTV, for example, sells their boxes using our content, that they should be allowed to collect licences on our behalf or pay some form of compensation. We did not say that that should be streaming as well. However, with the change in the white paper that is out at the moment. There is suggestion of licencing – in other words regulating the streaming industry.”