(Ecofin Agency) – The South African regulator ordered on September 29 a shutdown of the signals of the pay television operator StarSat, a local subsidiary of StarTimes. The company failed to renew its operating license on time, which expired in September.
In South Africa, StarSat’s 500,000 subscribers no longer receive a signal. The pay television operator mentioned “ a connection problem “, but several local media have been reporting for several days an injunction to cut off broadcasting issued by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.
The local subsidiary of StarTimes has still not renewed its operating license, while the deadline set for the end of July has now been 2 months. Its partner ODM, whose license it operates, spoke of “ difficulties encountered in obtaining new investments in a competitive market ».
StarSat announced an upcoming communication on the situation. In the meantime, DStv becomes the only currently functional pay TV operator in the country. In a complicated financial situation and on the verge of a potential merger of MultiChoice, its parent company, with Canal+, it can try to recover StarSat’s 500,000 subscribers.
Servan Ahougnon
