LIGHTS, CAMERA... CUT AS LOCAL TV FEARS FADING OUT

Merger deal a concern for creatives

- WENDY JASSON DA COSTA, SILINDILE MTOMBELA and TAWANDA KAROMBO

LOCAL creatives fear being sidelined as French media giant Canal+ moves to merge with MultiChoice - a deal that could reshape South Africa's TV industry and put local jobs and content at risk.

Actors, filmmakers and industry bodies say the deal lacks clear guarantees for local content production, fair pay, and intellectual property rights, warning that without regulation, foreign control could come at the cost of local voices.

The Competition Commission Tribunal hearing this week, will focus on public interest clauses of the merger, especially around commitments to support local content creators and historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs).

Regulators and commissioners sought to understand how local content creators and HPDs will be supported under the merged entity.

Canal+ and MultiChoice had committed to obligations to continue procuring goods and services from a diverse group of beneficiaries, including HDP firms, small and medium enterprises (SMMEs), and South African content creators.

Concerns were raised during Thursday's hearing on whether the wording under Clause 7 of the merger conditions was explicit enough to assure beneficiaries - particularly local content producers - that they are covered under the commitments.

The Competition Tribunal panel also queried Canal+ and Multichoice on the basis for monetary commitments related to local content procurement and HDP participation.