27 Jan 2012
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has refused TopTV permission to launch and broadcast three adult/pornographic channels. The authority's decision comes in the wake of subjecting the application for additional channels by TopTV to a public consultation process.
ICASA received an application by TopTV for three additional pornographic channels to on 27 July 2011. The authority then subjected the application to a public consultation process. The authority received 13 that written submission, and continued to hold public hearings on 16 January 2012 to receive oral presentations from interested parties.
TopTV was offered an opportunity to make an oral presentation, and to respond to all the presentations that were made on the day, but TopTV elected not to participate in the public hearings. Instead, TopTV submitted a written response to stakeholder submissions on 17 January 2012.
After the public hearings, the authority considered and deliberated on the submissions made by stakeholders and the public, including TopTV's written submission. The key point of deliberation revolved around how to balance the right of the applicant (TopTV) in terms of freedom of expression with the right of women to human dignity in terms of the relevant clauses of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The authority is of the view that the right of women to human dignity overrides the applicant's right to freedom of expression, as well as the rights of viewers to receive pornography on television. The authority will produce a Reasons Document within 30 days of the Council's decision on the matter.
Enquiries:
Jubie Matlou
Cell 082 376 0015
E-mail: jmatlou@icasa.org.za
Issued by: Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
27 Jan 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please Leave a message