South African pay-TV broadcaster On Digital Media (ODM) was ‘sold’ to StarTimes-backed StarSat in November 2013. Except it wasn’t…  The re-launch of ODM took place in Johannesburg on October 31st 2013, but ODM was bogged down in the local version of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (business rescue).

ODM traded as TopTV and subscribers were told that StarTimes would honour their existing subscriptions, effective December 1st 2013.

On August 6th ODM formally requested at a public hearing with regulator ICASA that its broadcast licences be transferred, urgently, and thus ensure that the company not only survived but that the [bankruptcy] business plan could conclude.  ODM’s CEO Eddie Mbalo (and now a consultant to StarTimes) said failure io wrap up the process would lead to job losses.

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