[Submitted via press release]
JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT
SABC AND MULTICHOICE REFUTES REPORT ON A R100 MILLION PENALTY
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and MultiChoice note with regret an exaggerated and shrewd newspaper article titled, ‘
SABC could face R100m penalty’ published today on Business Day.
The SABC and MultiChoice views this report as a major fraud as the article carries false details that the newspaper deems fit to be a credible story. It is appalling that the report says that the SABC has until Thursday, 03 October 2013 to launch its entertainment channel and this is not true.
There is an existing agreement between MultiChoice and the SABC that clearly outlines each party’s contractual obligations, and the contract does not have any clause or provision where it is indicated that SABC will pay R100m if the SABC entertainment channel is not launched by Thursday.
The contract does have time frames in which the SABC should launch, and that time has not lapsed as yet and it is imperative to note that the parties are at liberty to discuss further if there is a need to do so.
At present the parties are discussing the details of the content that has to be carried on the entertainment channel. The final date of the launch will be announced once the discussions are complete.
Despite MultiChoice’s comment that they are fine with ‘delays’ if there were any, the publication still continues with an alarming article even though the facts speak for themselves.
It is in the interest of the SABC and MultiChoice to present to the public with good quality programming as opposed to content that is rushed and of bad quality.