SABC Warns of Revenue Crisis Due to Analogue Switch-Off Uncertainty
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has raised concerns about the financial impact of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding South Africa’s analogue TV switch-off. The public broadcaster warns that the lack of a clear deadline is making it difficult to secure long-term advertising deals, threatening its revenue streams.
Advertising Revenue at Risk
During a presentation before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli revealed that marketers are hesitant to commit to bulk advertising purchases due to the unclear timeline for the switch-off.
“Advertisers are wary of entering into long-term deals because they’re uncertain about future audience numbers,” Chabeli explained. “If we lose viewers due to an abrupt switch-off, our advertising value will drop significantly.”
The SABC relies heavily on bulk advertising sales, and the current uncertainty has already impacted its liquidity. Chabeli emphasized that a premature switch-off could jeopardize the broadcaster’s financial sustainability.
Impact on Vulnerable Communities
Chabeli also highlighted the potential consequences for low-income households that depend on free-to-air TV for essential information and education.
“The chronically and transient poor rely on free broadcasts,” she said. “If analogue signals are switched off without proper alternatives, millions could be left without access to critical programming.”
TV Licence Fee Collection Crisis
Compounding the SABC’s financial woes is the growing issue of unpaid TV licence fees. In the 2023/24 financial year, the broadcaster billed nearly R5 billion but collected only R726 million, leaving a staggering R4.3 billion uncollected.
Court Intervention Delays Switch-Off
The Pretoria High Court recently suspended the original 31 March 2025 deadline for the analogue switch-off, citing concerns about public access to information. Judge Selby Baqwa ruled that cutting analogue signals prematurely would cause “irreversible harm” to citizens’ access to news and educational content.
The court also blocked Communications Minister Solly Malatsi and signal distributor Sentech from proceeding with the switch-off until proper alternatives are in place.
Set-Top Box Distribution Challenges
The government’s plan to distribute free set-top boxes (STBs) to qualifying households has faced significant hurdles. About 469,000 households still need to receive STBs, but outdated contact information has complicated distribution efforts.
Broadcasters warn that even more households – the so-called “missing middle” – earn slightly above the indigent threshold but still can’t afford STBs or satellite decoders.
Calls for Extended Deadline
The SABC has proposed pushing the analogue switch-off deadline to December 2025, while other broadcasters argue for an even longer extension to ensure no viewers are left behind.
As the debate continues, millions of South Africans remain in limbo, uncertain about their future access to free television broadcasts.