Satellite TV Dreams Dashed for Siyaya TV and Close TV Amid Funding Woes

Once envisioned as competitors to shake up the satellite television landscape in South Africa, both Siyaya TV and Close TV have failed to launch their services, leaving a void in a market where DStv continues to hold a strong foothold. This development was highlighted by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, as he responded to parliamentary inquiries, pointing to a lack of startup capital as the primary hurdle.

Founded with much fanfare and ambitious promises, Siyaya TV and Close TV acquired their official licenses back in 2015, granted by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), set to last for 15 years. Siyaya TV, backed by the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela traditional authority and its leader Kgosi Pilane, aimed to redefine broadcasting for rural communities and had gone to the extent of securing live match rights for the South African national football teams. With a deal pegged at R175 million annually with the South African Football Association (Safa), the stage seemed set for a broadcasting revolution that targeted the black middle-class and low-income earners, with football as its cornerstone at an accessible fee of R70 per month.

Close TV, on the other hand, proposed a unique pay-TV model tailored to niche markets, including South Africa's large LGBTQIA community. Led by Mia Groenewald, Close-T Broadcast Network Holdings aspired to offer customizable bundles and an innovative 'pay-per-view' model, departing from the all-encompassing subscription service that often burdens consumers with unwatched content. Close TV also had plans to tap into the indie film sphere and other varied cultural interests, positioning itself as a connoisseur’s choice.

Despite the potential and the clear demand for diversified content in South Africa, these channels remain absent from the airwaves. Siyaya TV's only remnant in the broadcasting industry seems to be the Moja Love channel, which has become part of DStv’s offering, while Close TV’s intended audience-specific bouquets have yet to materialize. OutTV, initially aligned with Close TV, transitioned to eMedia's slate before hitching itself to the eVOD streaming service, leaving behind the vision of a dedicated satellite channel.

This tale of unfulfilled potential casts a spotlight on the challenges faced by emerging broadcasters in South Africa, notably the struggle for funding and the difficulties in disrupting an established market. While the digital technology landscape burgeons, the broadcasting industry seems caught in the paradox of innovation versus execution — with transformative ideas often remaining on paper and not reaching the television screens of expectant audiences.