SABC to launch news channels, VOD service


South African public broadcaster the SABC is to launch 14 new channels and an interactive video service over the next two years as part of its rollout of digital terrestrial television.

The broadcaster submitted the plans to the country’s parliament that will include the launch of the new channels by April 2012, which the South African Department of Communications (DoC) has set as the switch-on date ahead of switchover by December 2013.

“By providing these television channels, radio stations and interactive services, the SABC will be making full use of the capacity allocated to the SABC in Multiplex 1 under the terms of ICASA’s regulations from February 2010,” said SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago.