broadcasting

The Amnesty International (AI) says that much needs to be done to secure human rights in Africa.

In its annual report, the organisation notes that ‘the tide is turning’ and mobile phones and FM radio have arguably done more than most other conventional methods to pursue this objective.

MTN and Vodacom have launched two competing devices that are aimed at bringing affordable Internet access to consumers, while at the same time growing their data revenues.
 
General consumer of marketing at MTN, Mapula Bodibe, points out that, “Through the launch of our InternetOnTV device, we aim to increase Internet penetration among previously disadvantaged and unconnected communities in South Africa."
 

The R250 million satellite designed for the African market will be launched on 29 March 2011 with promises of providing more bandwidth to the continent.

The satellite, New Dawn, which is partly owned by former Department of Communications director-general, Andile Ngcaba’s Convergence Partners, will sit 36 000 kilometers above Africa and will deliver telephony, broadband Internet access and media content to most of the continent for at least 15 years.

The Christ Embassy Church, recently banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) from airing its claims of faith healing, will be appealing the ruling.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), an HIV/AIDS rights organisation, took the church to the ASA over its claims that faith healing could cure tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS.

According to the TAC, the church aired a ‘commercial’ on Sunday mornings on e.tv in which Pastor Chris Oyakhilome claims he can heal congregants with cancer, or HIV.

President Jacob Zuma, says that more jobs will be created in South Africa when the country converts its television and radio signals from the analogue platform to the more advanced digital signal which will enable quality pictures and sound.

Speaking in Cape Town where he delivered his State of the Nation Address 2011, Zuma stated that these jobs will be created in manufacturing, packaging, distribution and installation during this period.

The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) says the public has a right to know the details of the financial settlement bestowed on embattled former South African Broadcasting Corporation CEO, Solly Mokoetle.

In a press statement, SANEF chairperson, Mondli Makhanya, points out that, “The public interest and the fact that public funds could be involved dictate that a full and proper public statement is called for."

A Bulawayo-based NGO, Radio Dialogue, is threatening to take the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to court if the body fails to issue the organisation with a broadcasting licence.

Radio Dialogue project coordinator, Kudzai Kwangwari, points out that the organisation will soon file court papers against BAZ since it feels there is no seriousness on the board to issue Radio Dialogue with a licence.

The Department of Communications (DoC) says South Africa will complete the process of migrating from analogue to digital television by December 2013.

Communications Minister, Roy Padayachie, also announced that the country will adopt the DVB-T2 standard for the process of digital migration.

Padayachie says the country’s 2013 deadline for switching off the analogue signal is in keeping with a global decision to switch off the signal by 2015.