The public broadcaster’s funding model and the implications of the decline in television licence sales were among the key issues discussed between the National Council of Provinces select committee on economic development and trade, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC).
Select Committee members visited the public broadcaster in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, to find out about its operational challenges and areas where it’s making progress, such as in the area of digital transformation.
Top of mind was the issue of a Funding Model for the SABC.
The Department of Communications indicated that an independent company had come up with a number of funding model ideas, with a report on the same issue now sitting with the Minister of Finance to give any one of the options the thumbs up.
The mandate of the committee and parliament is to do oversight of the executive and have a look to see if the funding that is made available to institutions, be it public or SOE and check if there is a return on investment.
The SABC is said to be having challenges that need the committee to extend a hand and find solutions.
Discussions were also around strengthening the SABC’s public mandate, while ensuring that the broadcaster thrives in what is an extremely competitive broadcasting environment.
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