Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi says the government is developing a new funding model for the SABC Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsisays the government is developing a new funding model for the SABCthroughtech advisory firm BMIT. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsisays the government is developing a new funding model for the SABC This comes as the public broadcaster continues to grapple with declining advertising revenue and a decline in TV licence compliance.IOL previously reported thatless than 20% of South African households are paying their TV licence fees. Briefing parliament last year,SABC CEO Nomsa Chabelialso told the committee that the cost of delivering the public broadcasting mandate remains significant and the public entity is currently underfunded, forcing the organisation to rely heavily on commercial revenue.
also told the committee that the cost of delivering the public broadcasting mandate remains significant and the public entity is currently underfunded, forcing the organisation to rely heavily on commercial revenue. “It’s important to note that when we have discussions about the SABC’s financial sustainability, we remember the cost of the public mandate that is currently unfunded. The SABC, from a commercial perspective, takes commercial revenue to fund the public mandate that’s our current model,” Chabeli said.
The government has now embarked on a process to explore sustainable funding options for the SABC.In an interview with the public broadcaster, Malatsi said that BMIT was tasked with developing a funding model for the broadcaster, and the report will outline various options. He emphasised that the idea of a broadcasting levy or tax is not government policy and remains only one of several proposals.
