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South Africa: Communications head slams pay-TV firm MultiChoice as ‘bully’

By  |  March 17, 2014

South Africa’s Communications Minister Yunus Carrim has slammed top pay-TV operator MultiChoice as a bullying “monopoly” that plagues the industry with the “same old, tired issues” over digital terrestrial television.

Reports say Carrim’s remarks were part of an interview on TechCentral and were made in response to claims the minister unfairly plays favorites in promoting interests of only some telcos.

According to reports, MultiChoice and two industry groups accused Carrim of advancing “the narrow commercial interests” of only some industry competitors. Reports say the claims refer to free-to-air broadcaster e.tv.

In his latest remarks, the communications head said that “it is absurd that a monopoly that makes such huge profits in this country claims that it, not the ANC government, represents the country’s interests.

Full Content: Screen Africa

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