South Africa’s public broadcaster has decided to air 90% and 80% ‘local content’ on its radio and television networks, respectively.
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has since May 12, 2016 been airing 90% local music on its 18 radio stations.
SABC has just announced a similar approach for its commercial TV stations.
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Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Chief Operationsd Officer at SABC, told the media on May 31, 2016 that SABC3, the commercial TV stattion that targets English-speaking viewers would from July 1, 2016 broadcast 80% ‘local content’ in line with the policy applicable to all SABC broadcasts.
While SABC1 and SABC2 already broadcasts 90% local content,Motsoeneng said, SABC3 would follow suit with an 80% local content quota.
But can South Africa produce enough ‘local content’ to meet the 90% quota?
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“We in South Africa need to change our mentality to believe in ourselves instead of believing in other people’s views outside the country,” Motsoeneng says. “If we don’t have good quality content and good music, this is the opportunity for people to start producing the quality that we’re talking about.”
In going local, Hlaudi Motsoeneng explains, the money SABC spends on foreign content will benefit local artists.
