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TopTV jumps on porn bandwagon

Cape Town – TopTV has big porn plans, with the pay TV operator On Digital Media (ODM) wanting to offer three porn channels to South Africa TV audiences.

ODM, TopTV's operator in South Africa, wants to run at least three pornographic TV channels in South Africa and has applied for such licenses at South Africa's broadcasting regulatory body.

This news comes as Porn Satellite Television, or PSat, plans to pump a hardcore pornographic TV channel, French Lover TV, into South Africa from CanalSat in France from January.

PSat is targeting TopTV subscribers because PSat is using the same Astra4 satellite in space that TopTV satellite dishes are already aligned and tuned to.

Henceforth TopTV subscribers would only need to get another decoder and smartcard but no new dish installation.

Illegal

PSat's service is illegal since neither PSat or the channel have been licensed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). The authority regulates all signals available within South Africa irrespective of where it originates from.

Meanwhile TopTV's own titillating TV plans are in stark contrast to CEO Vino Govender's promise 18 months ago when TopTV launched in May 2010 that TopTV will not be offering porn to subscribers.

Although TopTV considered pornography before launch, ODM eventually opted not to carry it.

Now TopTV has applied to Icasa to run three such adult television channels.

ODM's "application for authorisation of channels" was published in the Government Gazette on November 17.

The South African public had two weeks until December 1 to comment on the application.

TopTV confirmed to Channel24 that the pay TV operator has the "intent to broadcast adult content on these additional channels," and that it will "only be accessible as a secure, encrypted and separate subscription package on the pay TV platform."

TopTV said "there is a definite market for adult content and channels among South African television viewers".

Icasa responds

Icasa spokesperson Paseka Maleka told Channel24 that TopTV "has applied for three video channels.

"The application is currently under view. It's for adult TV content and the authority has not yet taken a decision.

"There might be hearings, we are busy with the process.

"We are still waiting for comments from the public and stakeholders. Then we will look at all the submissions and there could be a public hearing," he said. 

TopTV shocked

In a press release issued on Monday, TopTV said it is "shocked" by the "implied association with PSat.TV".

"TopTV would like it placed on record that it is not currently nor has it been in the past, in any discussions with PSat.TV regarding an adult content channel to be carried via the TopTV platform, nor is it in any way associated with PSat.TV," said the statement.


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