Unpacking the eTV court challenge

The battle between free-to-air broadcaster eTV and the Communications Ministry will continue as the broadcaster was granted leave to appeal earlier this month.

The new ruling by Judge Bill Prinsloo in the Pretoria High Court means that ETV is certified to take it’s fight against the digital migration policy set out by the government to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

etv took Department of Communications minister, Faith Muthambi, to court over the issue of using non-encrypted set-top boxes in the switch from analogue to digital television.

In a recent interview SOS Coalition coordinator Sekoetlane Phamodi unpacked what the migration process means and the issue of encryption as well as why eTV is against the proposed digital migration policy.

Voice of the Cape: The Drivetime Show with Shafiq Morton.

The matter will now be moving on to the Supreme Court of Appeals and will further delay the digital migration process. South Africa is currently behind the migration schedule having missed the June 17 deadline.