By: Natasha Archary
South Africans are fuming after news that the SABC is pushing to charge TV license fees for laptops and computers have been doing the rounds.
This after MyBroadBand reported that the public broadcaster sent a notice through an annual TV License Renewal Notice letter stipulating its decision.
According to the report, South Africans will be expected to pay TV license fees for making use of their computers and laptops for streaming.
Even if they are not consuming SABC content.
It’s not the first time that the SABC hinted that this would be the way forward, as it is part of the broadcaster’s plan to retrieve millions in unpaid TV licenses and recover funds.
The idea was first shared a few years ago, but was subsequently scrapped after mass public outrage that any device which could connect to the internet be charged for, including smart phones.
Under broadcasting legislature, the TV license fees were only applicable to TV sets.
However, the SABC is now pushing to include any television receiving equipment, whether is capable of receiving a broadcast signal or not.
This includes a DStv decoder, DVD player, PC, laptop, smartphones and any device that can connect to the internet.
OUTA’s Wayne Duvenhage said the move by the SABC is nothing short of opportunistic and wrong.
“They had plans to amend the Act to include screens and computers that didn’t have television receiving capabilities, but I’m not sure this was done. If so, it would have been heavily challenged in court.”
While the SABC said that the letter clearly stated TV monitors that were connected to TV receiving equipment, MyBroadBand stressed that DVD players, PC’s and laptops were named specifically by the broadcaster.
Gugu Ntuli, the SABC’s executive for corporate affairs and marketing said, “It must be noted that such receiving equipment (STB, decoder, tuner, etc.) renders the TV monitor as a TV due to the television broadcast signal transmitted.”
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