20 January 2025, Amy Fraser, Primedia+
According to Bird, the SABC’s current financial crisis can be traced back to decisions made by previous ministers to switch off analogue signals before a viable alternative was in place, cutting off a significant portion of their audience.
“This is an issue that should’ve been addressed about a decade and a half, if not two decades ago, but be it as it may, at least it’s now being addressed finally.”
– William Bird, Director – Media Monitoring Africa
Malatsi has emphasised that his focus is on creating a funding model that aligns with the evolving demands of modern broadcasting.
Bird suggests that a viable funding model will likely involve a mixed public-private approach, relying on public funding.
The SABC has already proposed two potential solutions: replacing the TV licence with a household levy, and collaborating with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and DStv owner MultiChoice to collect the levy.
Bird highlights that if the public wants access to credible, fair, and accurate news, journalism must be adequately funded, and a key component of this ecosystem is a strong public service broadcaster.