Johannesburg – The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between e.tv and transmission provider Sentech will allow the launch of new multiple channels on its digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform, e.tv said on Friday.

“e.tv was granted a minimum of 50 percent of a DTT multiplex in terms of the regulations issued in December 2012 by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa),” group head of corporate affairs Vasili Vass said in a statement.

Group CEO Marcel Golding said e.tv was pleased with the MOU, as Sentech had invested significantly in the national DTT roll-out and developed a vision for the future of free-to-air television on all platforms.

Sentech CEO Setumo Mohapi also welcomed the signing of the MOU.

“This is a significant milestone in terms of the country’s broadcasting digital migration policy,” he said.

“The industry is now a step closer to ensuring that the country will meet the commitments it made to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to switch-off analogue television broadcasting services by June 2015.”

South Africa and the rest of the world are migrating from analogue transmission to digital transmissions.

The ITU has said that after June 2015, countries will no longer be protected against disruptions of the radio waves that are used for analogue television broadcasts.

Source: Business Report