Free-to-air decision welcomed

THE MEDIA Workers Association of SA (Mwasa) yesterday welcomed the SABC’s decision to make its digital terrestrial television (DTT) set-top boxes free-to-air.

General secretary Tuwani Gumani said while the SABC’s announced position was not new, as it was consistent with its public mandate, it did represent a paradigm shift at the broadcaster as it unexpectedly repositioned itself as pro- poor, pro-rural access.

The SABC said that having a set-top box with conditional access would put an extra burden on consumers, and drive up the cost of the device. – Sapa