[30 September 2015] Notice has been given of public hearings to be held regarding the Position Paper and Draft Regulations on South African Local Content: Television and Radio (see lower on for links). The hearings are scheduled for 1 and 2 October 2015.

Notice of Public Hearings – Dates and Agenda

ICASA Is Convening Public Hearings On The Draft Local Content Regulations

According to the media release accompanying the Gazetting of the hearing dates:

“Once finalized, the Regulations on South African Music will apply to sound broadcasting services i.e. all public, commercial and community radio services, whereas, the South African TV Local Content regulations will apply to programming on television such as drama, documentaries, soap operas etc.

The Authority proposed new local content quotas and requested input on same in the Draft Regulations. Local content quotas provide the minimum requirements of local content to be broadcast on television and radio.

The Draft Regulations and Position Paper are an outcome of the study conducted by the Authority and submissions to the Discussion Document. After publishing the Draft Regulations, the Authority held workshops across all Provinces to solicit inputs from interested stakeholders on the published documents.”

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[19 July 2015]  ICASA will conduct a number of workshops to solicit input on the two Draft Regulations (see below), after which which the Authority will conduct public hearings and publish final regulations based on the inputs from the workshops, written submissions and public hearings.

 

The workshops will be held in different areas across nine (9) Provinces to ensure effective consultation and tap into views from various sectors of the South African society. The schedule is as follows:

PROVINCE WORKSHOP DATE VENUE
North West 21-Jul-15 Mmabatho Palms:

Nelson Mandela Drive, Mafikeng
Limpopo 23-Jul-15 Garden Court:

Corner Thabo Mbeki & President Paul Kruger Streets,  Polokwane
Mpumalanga 21-Jul-15 Protea Hotel:

30 Jerepico St, Nelspruit
Western Cape 24-Jul-15 Lagoon Beach:

1 Lagoon Beach Drive, Milnerton, Cape Town
Northern Cape 28-Jul-15 Garden Court:

120 Du Toitspan Road, Kimberley, Northern Cape
Free State 30-Jul-15 Protea Hotel:

202 Nelson Mandela Rd, Brandwag, Bloemfontein
Eastern Cape 28-Jul-15 Garden Court:    

Corner John Bailie and Moore Streets, Quigney, East London
Kwa-Zulu Natal 30-Jul-15 Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani:             

63 Snell Parade, Durban
Gauteng 31-Jul-15 ICASA Head office:

164 Katherine Street, Sandton

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[19 June 2015] ICASA have now published a Position Paper together with two sets of draft regulations.

Position Paper on Review of SA Local Content on Television and Radio (June 2015)

Draft SA Music Content Regulations (June 2015)

Draft SA Television Content Regulations (June 2015)

Written representations with regard to the Draft Regulations must be submitted to ICASA by no later than 16h00 on 14 August 2015 by post, hand delivery or electronically (in Microsoft Word)
and marked specifically for attention: Mamedupe Kgatshe. Delivery address: Block A, Pinmill Farm, 164 Katherine Street, Sandton. Where possible, written representations should also be emailed to: mkgatshe@icasa.org.za or by facsimile: 011 566 -3260.

Enquiries should be directed to 011 566 -3259; between 10h00 and 16h00, Monday to Friday.

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[18 April 2015] ICASA has taken the next step in this process through the publication of a findings document on 16 April 2015.

ICASA Findings Document on South African Local Content 

The conclusions section is reproduced in its entirety below:

The submissions present various suggestions on how the Authority should regulate South African Local Content on Television and Radio. The recommendations include a call for the Authority to align the television regulation to a digital multichannel environment focusing on a bouquet rather than individual channel quota requirements.

The Authority notes the need to improve on the current monitoring of compliance with Local Content regulations and will make a decision on the most efficient method.

Subsequent to the publication of this Findings document, the Authority will continue with the regulatory making process to review the current regulations on South African Local Content for Television and Radio.

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[7 July 2014] ICASA have initiated an inquiry under section 4B of the ICASA Act into the regulatory framework relating to the obligation to air local content on South African television and radio stations.

ICASA Discussion Document on Local Content for Television and Broadcasting July 2014

Comments are due by 10 September 2014.