No ‘adult TV’ for South Africans
January 30, 2012
By Chris Forrester
Plans by South Africa’s TopTV to add three Playboy channels as the nations’ first adult pay-TV networks have been stymied by the regulator.
South Africa’s Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) has ruled against the scheme. ICASA spokesman Jubie Matlou said it was decided that women’s right to dignity outweighed TopTV’s right to freedom of expression, and the rights of viewers to receive pornography on television. “The authority will produce a reasons document within 30 days,” he said.
Religious and children’s groups welcomed the move.
“We advise that the council of the authority … decided, after careful consideration, to refuse On Digital Media’s application for the authorisation of (the proposed) video channels,” ICASA said in a letter to TopTV, which is owned by On Digital Media.
Last year, Multichoice’s DStv pay-TV service also dropped its adult plans.
TopTV officials say they will wait for the official notification before commenting further.
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