Porn in the living room as TOPTV gets green light

THE Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has authorised On Digital Media, operating as TopTV, permission to broadcast the three “adult content channels” Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice.

Icasa found no law prohibiting the production and distribution of adult content in South Africa, reporting that only the production and distribution of child pornography is expressly prohibited by law.

The channels may only be aired from 8pm to 5am and required a double pin code so as to safeguard children’s rights.

Objections

Icasa found that most of the objections in the comment process “were based on moral grounds” – … rather than hard evidence to demonstrate any link between pornography and gender-based violence.

Clinical sexologist Marlene Wasserman – known as Dr Eve – who has also worked as a consultant to ODM, said: “It’s absolutely a watershed moment in our country’s history, and I’m very proud to have been part of this campaign to legalise the porn channel, to give people the opportunity not to live in a nanny state – to have freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and to trust us to become responsible adults… to enjoy the freedom that the constitution gives us.”

Asked what she might say to those scared of porn’s alleged consequences, she explained: “It is proved that there is no link between viewing of pornography and violence.

Interview

“There is a link between viewing violent pornography and violence against women, but only if you have a number of other criteria present, such as a proclivity towards psychopathy.”

In a recent interview, Eddy Mbalo, the company’s chief executive, defended the content.

“These channels are already broadcast in 62 countries around the world, and adhere to the industry standards set in the United Kingdom,” he explained.

He also took issue with the term “porn”, arguing: “If you want to watch porn, you will go on to the internet. If you want ‘adult entertainment’, then you would typically watch Playboy.”

The “softest” of the three channels is “Playboy”, and the “hardest” is “Private Spice”.