--- title: Comms ministry’s ‘on-demand’ services policy moves to next phase | ITWeb description: The department confirms the April commencement of public hearings for the policy framework of over-the-top and video-on-demand services, among others. image: https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yOJsHVnzbC-S5ZBymw_5mpZ9QGCpTzzOA4u9BROU7YaCB2BtLuqTZtYhX1YA2n6FK_pvPxv0jEEd0jGMWTJKk-g=w816-h428.jpeg --- [![vast.png](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hs-fs/hubfs/ObscureLogo-02.png?width=1000&height=354&name=ObscureLogo-02.png "vast.png")](http://www.obscuretech.net) Open main menu Close main menu - [Technology Partners](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/technology-partners) Open the submenu - [BeyondTrust](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/beyondtrust) - [Cybereason](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/cybereason) - [Forescout](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/forescout) - [Gytpol](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/gytpol) - [Netskope](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/netskope) - [OKTA](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/okta) - [OneTrust](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/onetrust) - [Palo Alto Networks](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/palo-alto-networks) - [Pentera](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/pentera) - [Proofpoint](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/proofpoint) - [Radware](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/radware) - [RiskIQ](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/riskiq) - [Rubrik](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/rubrik) - [Splunk](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/splunk) - [Tenable](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/tenable) - [Trend Micro](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/trend-micro) - [Obscure Blog](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/blog) - [About Us](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/about-us) - [Contact Us](https://obscuretech-6344971.hs-sites.com/contact-us) # Comms ministry’s ‘on-demand’ services policy moves to next phase [ITWeb](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/blog/author/itweb) [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/blog/office/obscuretechnologies/content/rayayqodky1vj38n) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/blog/office/obscuretechnologies/content/rayayqodky1vj38n) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/blog/office/obscuretechnologies/content/rayayqodky1vj38n) ![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yOJsHVnzbC-S5ZBymw_5mpZ9QGCpTzzOA4u9BROU7YaCB2BtLuqTZtYhX1YA2n6FK_pvPxv0jEEd0jGMWTJKk-g=w816-h428.jpeg) ![Communications and digital technologies minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. (Photo source: GCIS)](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yOJsHVnzbC-S5ZBymw_5mpZ9QGCpTzzOA4u9BROU7YaCB2BtLuqTZtYhX1YA2n6FK_pvPxv0jEEd0jGMWTJKk-g.jpeg) Communications and digital technologies minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. (Photo source: GCIS) The public hearings for the policy framework that will pave the way for the licensing of over-the-top (OTT) and video-on-demand (VOD) services, among others, will get under way in April. This is according to the communications ministry, which notes the hearings follow the gazetting of the draft [White Paper](https://www.ellipsis.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Draft-white-paper-on-audio-and-audiovisual-content-services-policy-framework-October-2020.pdf) on audio-visual content services for public comment last year. The hearings are scheduled for April and May, it states. Last year, the policy proposal received [widespread criticism](https://www.itweb.co.za/content/GxwQD71Z1rwMlPVo) for making way for the expansion of the current TV licence system to require that VOD services adopt the same approach. [![Click Here](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/axizintel120x250-Sep-18-2023-05-48-49-8480-PM.jpg?width=120&height=250&name=axizintel120x250-Sep-18-2023-05-48-49-8480-PM.jpg "Click Here")](https://ad.itweb.co.za/adclick.php?bannerid=49744&zoneid=0&source=&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fmailchi.mp%2F5a0948f9a5db%2Fintel-make-an-intelligent-choice) ![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adlog-Sep-18-2023-05-47-09-1872-PM.php) For example, it seeks to ensure service providers like MultiChoice, Netflix and Apple TV collect COLLECT [![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SqwidNet-logo_xl-Sep-18-2023-05-48-42-7240-PM.gif)](http://adx.itweb.co.za/adclick.php?bannerid=27046&zoneid=0&source=&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sqwidnet.com%2F&ismap=) [Driving innovation through IoT. Sqwidnet can give you the tools to bring your ideas to life. Connect with us.](http://adx.itweb.co.za/adclick.php?bannerid=27046&zoneid=0&source=&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sqwidnet.com%2F&ismap=) ![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adlog-Sep-18-2023-05-47-13-7332-PM.php) TV licences on behalf of the SABC, so that people who don't have television sets but enjoy VOD entertainment services via smart devices DEVICES [![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SqwidNet-logo_xl-Sep-18-2023-05-48-42-7240-PM.gif)](http://adx.itweb.co.za/adclick.php?bannerid=27049&zoneid=0&source=&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sqwidnet.com%2F&ismap=) [Driving innovation through IoT. Sqwidnet can give you the tools to bring your ideas to life. Connect with us.](http://adx.itweb.co.za/adclick.php?bannerid=27049&zoneid=0&source=&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sqwidnet.com%2F&ismap=) ![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adlog-Sep-18-2023-05-47-07-5722-PM.php) also pay TV licences. In a statement, the communications and digital technologies department says the draft White Paper, among others, proposes new policy and regulatory changes, as well as recommendations intended to reposition the audio-visual sector for future growth, and to promote investment. ##### See also ## [Public outcry over proposed TV licences for Netflix, Showmax](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/content/GxwQD71Z1rwMlPVo) ## [Netflix, OTT players will eat our lunch, says MultiChoice](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/content/JN1gPvO1j4EMjL6m) More importantly, the paper emphasises the review of pertinent elements like the licensing of OTT services, competition issues in relation to pay-TV and free-to-air markets, as well as skills development to accelerate digital transformation within the audio-visual sector. Communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams states there is a growing need to level the playing field between traditional broadcasting and on-demand services providers, including catch-up TV services, VOD services, news portals and video-sharing platforms. “It has been quite a journey to get this draft White Paper to this stage,” she says. “We are steadily moving towards the implementation IMPLEMENTATION [![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gen2software-logo_xl-Sep-18-2023-05-48-04-2609-PM.gif)](http://adx.itweb.co.za/adclick.php?bannerid=26948&zoneid=0&source=&dest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gen2sa.co.za%2F&ismap=) [Budgeting tools that you can ACTUALLY use. See the difference.](http://adx.itweb.co.za/adclick.php?bannerid=26948&zoneid=0&source=&dest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gen2sa.co.za%2F&ismap=) ![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/adlog-Sep-18-2023-05-47-11-2399-PM.php) stage now. To date, the department has received more than 40 formal submissions, from a wide range of stakeholders and individuals.” According to Ndabeni-Abrahams, the department is analysing all the submissions with the intention of revising the White Paper to incorporate inputs. ### Leave a Comment ## Related Articles [![](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/aFJ1ipAqFrBd-gyW5DkL4DmpaNDrOZkRF3fuDQ9eKoBwzndT0bvDsAYGBBHxZRnNZl0OA6HmEL6QBzPmZ9INDXE=w816-h428.jpeg)](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/blog/office/obscuretechnologies/content/myzrx79aejr7oga8) ### [Comms ministry kicks-off digital TV public awareness](https://hubspot.obscuretech.net/blog/office/obscuretechnologies/content/myzrx79aejr7oga8) Deputy communications minister Pinky Kekana participates in one of the DCDT’s previous campaign drives. 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