THE war of words that erupted between MultiChoice and Communications Minister Yunus Carrim this week is extraordinary. It is also, unfortunately, very damaging.It is unusual in South Africa — or most countries, for that matter — for a large company to take on a Cabinet minister directly, aggressively and in public like this.One has to assume the decision by MultiChoice to publish full-page newspaper advertisements, in which it alleges that Carrim is pandering to “certain narrow commercial interests”, had the blessing of Koos Bekker, the CEO of parent company Naspers.But why?There are big risks for MultiChoice in adopting a confrontational approach with the government.The broadcaster, which owns DStv, M-Net and SuperSport, has an entrenched monopoly in pay-TV and surely cannot assume, even if that monopoly is benign, that an ANC government, which could veer to the left after the May 7 elections, would make decisions that are in its interests.Carrim has already labelled MultiChoice a ...
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