Covid-19 can be easily tweaked to adjust to new strains, explains NICD prof
Southern Africa braces for impact as tropical storm Eloise intensifies
10% drop in festive season road deaths, but no reduction in real terms, says AA
Why Northern Mozambique locals may support attacks in Cabo Delgado
He never forgot his humanity - politicians and journalists mourn Jackson Mthembu
Minister Jackson Mthembu passes away from Covid-19
10 countries that lead the world in vaccinating their people against Covid-19
Virgin Active responds to customer complaint about gym ventilation
Santam's three-month settlement offer 'flying in the face of policy and courts'
John Maytham's Book Reviews: 22 January 2021
Ginger shortage impacting ginger beer quality and price - SA producer
Ginger and garlic prices are skyrocketing – and unlikely to ever be cheap again
Rachel Kolisi has Covid-19. It is taking a toll on the kids, says Siya
Jurie Roux ordered to pay back R37m ‘misappropriated’ from Stellenbosch Uni
'What a moment of joy!' Siya pays surprise visit to fire-ravaged Masiphumelele
Sorry not sorry? Somizi slammed for posting jouno's cell number on Instagram
[PHOTOS] You can go to the beach! But only in the Northern Cape
Miss SA slammed for bikini pics, but supporters say criticism is form of GBV
'Billionaire perks' - SA reacts after Johann Rupert jumps queue for Covid-19 jab
Biden ends abortion funding rule to 'protect women's health, advance equality'
Exactly a year ago, Wuhan in China locked down – and the world changed, forever
Seychelles President hopes to vaccinate 70% of nation's population by mid-March
Chinese businesses and Namibian elites get rich illegally logging rosewood trees
Zimbabwe crisis: 'South Africa can intervene but solution lies with Zimbabweans'
Sarb interest rate decision will hurt economy and property market - Samuel Seeff
Hire unemployed South African doctors of all races, not Cubans – Herman Mashaba
Consumers should not have to fight for right to access recorded calls
'Sport must be free to watch - and DStv must pay the SABC to carry its content'
The SABC is toast, and taxpayers have nothing left to give.
The government has just released a white paper, suggesting radical changes to broadcasting in South Africa in a seemingly desperate attempt to raise revenue for the money-pit public broadcaster.
If the suggestions are enacted, it will allow the SABC to charge operators such as MultiChoice to carry its channels.
Netflix is also in regulators’ crosshairs.
Is the state going to “milk” pay-tv operators to fund the loss-making SABC?
John Maytham asked Jan Vermeulen, a senior journalist at MyBroadband, for comment.
Vermeulen also touched on other aspects of the white paper, including the government’s proposal to make major sports “in the national interest” free to watch.
More recent articles by Vermeulen:
-
It’s NOT your imagination – your airtime and data are disappearing
-
Cost of freeing your home from Eskom, completely and forever – or partially
-
Govt has a plan to make major sports free to watch. MultiChoice is not happy
The white paper provides for sporting events “of national interest” to be made free to watch… Some events exclusive to DStv have to be made available to people for free…
Jan Vermeulen, senior journalist - MyBroadband
The BBC is funded by licensing its content all over the world – a trick that the SABC is missing…
Jan Vermeulen, senior journalist - MyBroadband
Government is working hard at regulating Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus and even YouTube to an extent… Netflix, in particular, will need a license to operate in South Africa…
Jan Vermeulen, senior journalist - MyBroadband
Foreign investors – it’s incredibly difficult to get their money out of South Africa…
Jan Vermeulen, senior journalist - MyBroadband
I don’t expect that DStv will take that [free sport] lying down. There’s a big fight coming… Local leagues are incredibly dependent on that income [form pay-tv broadcasters] …
Jan Vermeulen, senior journalist - MyBroadband
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
More from Business
10 countries that lead the world in vaccinating their people against Covid-19
Only Israel and the UAE are further along than the tiny African nation of Seychelles, ranked 178th by the size of its economy.
Read More
Virgin Active responds to customer complaint about gym ventilation
'We do allow the clubs to open windows and doors' but the ventilation systems remain key, explains Virgin Active's Derek du Preez.
Read More
Santam's three-month settlement offer 'flying in the face of policy and courts'
Attorney Anel Bestbier has slammed insurer Santam’s decision to limit business interruption settlement offers to just three months.
Read More
Strategies to help your small business not only survive, but thrive in 2021
Entrepreneur Pavlo Phitidis has tips for business owners looking for a plan of action to tackle current uncertainty.
Read More
Sarb interest rate decision will hurt economy and property market - Samuel Seeff
There was ample reason for a cut says the Seeff group. 'We've missed an opportunity' laments its chairperson, Samuel Seeff.
Read More
Ginger shortage impacting ginger beer quality and price - SA producer
Yamama Gemmer prides itself on using the best-quality imported ginger. Now it's forced to source the spice from wherever it can.
Read More
No further repo rate cut says Reserve Bank, increases expected in both Q2 and Q3
The SA Reserve Bank has announced the repo rate is unchanged at 3.5%. 'I would have cut!' declares economist Xhanti Payi.
Read More
Ginger and garlic prices are skyrocketing – and unlikely to ever be cheap again
"The market wasn't ready for what came our way; the rediscovery of their health benefits," says agri-economist Dr Kobus Laubscher.
Read More
Hire unemployed South African doctors of all races, not Cubans – Herman Mashaba
"People are dying," says Mashaba. "They don’t care who gives them service, whether you’re black or white. Employ our people!"
Read More
Medical scheme reserves could easily fund SA's Covid-19 vaccines - here's how
Business Insider SA's Phillip de Wet says South Africa's medical schemes could use their extra reserves to cover the country's entire vaccine bill.
Read MoreMore from Opinion
Biden ends abortion funding rule to 'protect women's health, advance equality'
The US President is ending the prohibition of the funding of NGO’s that provide abortions abroad, says Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng.
Read More
Sarb interest rate decision will hurt economy and property market - Samuel Seeff
There was ample reason for a cut says the Seeff group. 'We've missed an opportunity' laments its chairperson, Samuel Seeff.
Read More
Ginger and garlic prices are skyrocketing – and unlikely to ever be cheap again
"The market wasn't ready for what came our way; the rediscovery of their health benefits," says agri-economist Dr Kobus Laubscher.
Read More
Hire unemployed South African doctors of all races, not Cubans – Herman Mashaba
"People are dying," says Mashaba. "They don’t care who gives them service, whether you’re black or white. Employ our people!"
Read More
Consumers should not have to fight for right to access recorded calls
Why do consumers have to jump through so many hoops? Consumer ninja Wendy Knowler makes her case on The Money Show.
Read More
Racist medical scheme algorithms: 'Discovery did something.The ratios went down'
"Medical schemes must show that the discrimination was fair and based on facts," says constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos.
Read More
Biden order of the day: 'Undo some of the damage Trump has done to our country'
Lester Kiewit interviews Jonathan Ross (Democrats Abroad South Africa) about his hopes – and fears – for Biden’s first 100 days.
Read More
What do flatulence-filtering undies (for real) have to do with Donald Trump?
A campaign for a UK underwear producer manages to attach itself to the US presidential transition, earning Andy Rice's hero award.
Read More
New laws force all restaurants to pay higher wages, and a host of other expenses
"It applies to everybody. You have no choice," says Jan Truter of Labour Wise. "It comes at the worst possible time."
Read More
6 trends that will drag us along in 2021 – life will never be the same again
The future is now different. The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviews trends analyst Dion Chang, the founder of Flux Trends.
Read MoreMore from Sport
Rachel Kolisi has Covid-19. It is taking a toll on the kids, says Siya
"Let’s do everything we can to protect those around us," pleaded the Springbok captain on social media.
Read More
Jurie Roux ordered to pay back R37m ‘misappropriated’ from Stellenbosch Uni
SA Rugby Union (Saru) CEO Jurie Roux has been instructed to repay R37 million which he apparently misappropriated from the coffers of Stellenbosch University.
Read More
'What a moment of joy!' Siya pays surprise visit to fire-ravaged Masiphumelele
'There were cheers and ululating!' Kolisi was shocked by the carnage says Pastor John Thomas, but lifted the mood of the people.
Read More
Russia's doping ban reduced, but still banned from next Olympics and World Cup
Russian athletes can still compete with certain restrictions such as the words 'neutral athlete' appearing on their kit.
Read More
Former cricket star JP Duminy helps kids find life-saving bone marrow matches
He is hoping to raise R400 000 together with the South African Bone Marrow Registry.
Read More
Fancy a hike this weekend? Join Peninsula Ramblers on Sunday to Cave Peak
The Outdoor Report's Jeff Ayliff runs through some wonderful outdoor hikes and trail runs happening in the Penisula this weekend.
Read More
England hooker (42) can’t remember wife’s name or winning 2003 World Cup
More and more pro rugby players are being diagnosed with dementia. Can the game survive, asks Adam Gilchrist.
Read More
Breakdancing becomes a fully-fledged Olympic sport
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will feature breakdancing as a medal event.
Read More
Shoes take athletics to new heights as Kandie smashes half marathon world record
Kenyan long-distance runner Kibiwott Kandie is now the fastest half marathoner of all time. Is it all thanks to the "super shoes"?
Read More
CT Cycle Tour 2021: Entries open in January, but participants to drop by 50%
Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust David Bellairs describes key changes to the tour during the time of Covid-19.
Read More
Highlights