The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has warned newly launched FTA platform Free2View that it is broadcasting illegally.
The satellite service officially launched last week (January 21), using a transponder on Eutelsat W3A (7 degrees East), and uplinked from the UK. The advertising-supported Free2View is one of a number of new entrants to the South African DTH market and shares its satellite with the encrypted GTV service. It is looking to target South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Angola, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Congo, Gabon, DRC, Malawi and Uganda. Channels include a version of MSNBC, Senegal’s RTS, the French Direct 8 and Muslim Television International (MTA).
Elissa Wilding, COO of Great Media, the owner of Free2View, has told South African media that it is operating legally because its channels are linked to the US. It is planned to increase the number of available channels to six by the end of the year and 36 within the next 18 months.
