MultiChoice cited for SABC greasing
DA calls for probe by regulatory body as the Naspers subsidiary accused of kickback attempt
Minutes of a high-level 2013 meeting between South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) executives and MultiChoice suggest the Naspers pay-TV subsidiary tried to use a R500m payment for an SABC news channel as cover to secure influence over government policy on encryption. Analysts said MultiChoice saw encryption as a threat to its dominance of the pay-TV market and the company was determined to reverse government policy and ensure set-top boxes were not encrypted. MultiChoice’s South African operations generate hefty and much-needed cash flows for Naspers. At the time of the meeting the government’s policy was to back encryption. The release of the minutes has fuelled growing calls for a probe into MultiChoice’s relationship with ANN7 and the national broadcaster."If MultiChoice says there is nothing untoward in its relationship with the two television stations then it must come clean and show us all the documents," said Phumzile van Damme, the DA shadow minister of communicatio...
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