If you can’t beat them, join them. At least that’s the way the saying originally goes. If you’re the South African government who is still trying to justify the existence of an aging broadcaster like SABC, the saying is more like, if you can’t join them, beat them. With a stick, as hard as possible until they run away.
That appears to be what the government is trying to do as the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has released a proposal–which they are opening up for public comment–which will require all streaming services available in the country to offer 30 percent local content on their platform.
Along with the relevant taxes, this will be a new requirement for these services to be allowed to operate in the country. This proposal also comes shortly after plans were announced to force anyone who could access streaming services on an electronic device, to start forking out for a TV license.
Where video-on-demand subscription services come and operate in South Africa, everything that they show to South Africans in terms of their catalogue – 30% of that catalogue must be South African content.
What this means is that we are trying to create opportunities for the production and creative industry sector.
Chief director of broadcasting policy Collin Mashile
Now I can personally understand the need to want to tax these companies that are making decent money locally and even ask them to promote the local industry by producing original content here, but expecting the likes of Netflix, Amazon and Disney to offer 30 percent local content when their entire service offering is built on a massive catalog of international content is a little arrogant. Especially when the likes of Netflix have been investing quite heavily in producing original African content already.
Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ may have a lot of money, but given the amount of content they already own, it would be expensive for them to produce that much local content and will lead to one of the following scenarios:
They all license the same local content and every streaming service will be filled with horrible Leon Schuster movies and Scandal reruns,
They only release a fraction of their international content in South Africa to maintain the 70/30 split.
Or their pull out entirely.
Sadly, it’s the latter two scenarios that are likely to happen and we may end up not getting big streaming services coming this way as a result of government inteference.
While its fair to expect some level of taxation and local content, 30 percent is perhaps too high and we may land up becoming a nation of starved of international streaming content and see divestment of international companies in our entertainment industry rather than further investment. It’s like the previous decree where all radio stations had to play mostly local music all over again, back when former SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng was in charge. What could possibly go wrong?
Let’s hope these proposals get amended further before getting finalised. I believe we should continue to support the local entertainment industry as much as possible, but not through draconian and oppressive laws.
Last Updated: November 26, 2020
Iskape
November 26, 2020 at 09:13
Some South African productions do have very high standards, I won’t deny that. But that’s not the majority. I personally believe if government approached the streaming services on a more amicable level to discuss how they can assist our local industry, instead of using strong arm tactics, some may just happily do so. There is potential in our market, it just needs some more international guidance.
Du4098
November 26, 2020 at 09:33
Yeah but isn’t that what Showmax is for? I don’t have a sub anymore but I seem to remember a ton of locally produced shows on there.
Mandalorian Jim
November 26, 2020 at 14:32
The free version of showmax is basically 100% local shows. I really don’t think that content should be every where. I don’t want to watch 7de laan or rhythm city or insidingo or skeem saam. They don’t interest me.
Du4098
November 26, 2020 at 14:59
It’s becoming more and more prevalent that consumers can’t choose the content we want to consume or how we want to consume it. Oh you want physical games? Sorry you can’t, here’s gamepass. You have netflix because you don’t like local content? Too bad, here’s some 7de Laan. This is why some people (for sure not me) pirate.
Original Heretic
November 26, 2020 at 08:27
If the quality of the local productions were on par, fine.
But, yeah… they’re so not.
Lu
November 26, 2020 at 08:32
Yeah no you can’t pay me to watch that.
Mandalorian Jim
November 26, 2020 at 14:53
There used to be this local drama series about a bunch of journalists in a newsroom. It was fantastic, and a comedy show (a bit like the office) about a bunch of oddball teachers. Both of those shows were the pinnacle of local TV but for ever 1 of those there’s a literal portaloo filled with local content thats targeted at the lowest common denominator. I don’t have the time nor the desire to find the rubies among the shit. It’s sad, but if the local industry focused on quality rather than cheaply-produced township/shebeen fare then maybe I wouldn’t be so antagonistic.
Lu
November 26, 2020 at 08:32
I wish they’d just let the SABC die with the scraps of dignity it has left. I already have a major issue with the millions of Bollywood movies spamming Amazon Prime. I don’t wanna have to scroll through an extra bunch of cheaply filmed crap (see all the DSTV Africa Magic channels – local films who actually get money form DSTV to film, lets not even go into the SABC trash).
Should they attempt to push this, I’ll cancel all my subs, VPN, and resubscribe.
Pofadder
November 26, 2020 at 08:42
That Bollywood crap is the reason I cancelled my prime.
Lu
November 26, 2020 at 08:54
There are a few shows that I do really enjoy that make it worth it, but yeah it’s a case of knowing what you wanna watch and searching on that exact name.
Mandalorian Jim
November 26, 2020 at 14:32
Yeah, I cancelled netflix a while back and prime is really starting to piss me off. I’m only still subbed because I’m catching up on 8 seasons of Psyche
Allykhat
November 26, 2020 at 10:08
Same. Its faster to find a torrent and DL a movie I want to watch than filter through all that BS.
And honestly, if Gov want to go that route, screw em, I’ll just VPN or sail the high seas with a VPN, then they cant do jack.
Seeker
November 26, 2020 at 08:45
It’s amazing how Amazon with all their money doesn’t have a way to filter out all that crap. It’s really annoying to scroll through.
Lu
November 26, 2020 at 08:49
Yep. Films->Action Result: 3 Hollywood films for every 90 Bollywood.
Put in several customer care requests with no response. Like statistically yeah there are probably 20 people to 1 me who actually like that stuff, but at least allow me to filter on language. The tag is there already.
SELECT * FROM Movies WHERE Language = ‘English’
Like how hard is that???
Seeker
November 26, 2020 at 08:45
SABC making desperate moves. They wanted to make their own streaming service. Why try pollute the other services with content of their choosing? Most people who join those streaming services doing to watch international shows.
Mandalorian Jim
November 26, 2020 at 14:04
As much as I respect the local film industry and I think we have some serious talent in this country, I will cancel amazon prime so quickly if there’s local content on there that Bizos might spin in the wind. I’d rather pirate then. I don’t watch local TV, and it’s generally because it’s mostly shit, and I don’t have time to wade through a sewer of bad local TV for the one or two gems that could be worth watching. Why go to all that trouble to escape from sabc and etv if that shit just ends up on netflix or prime? It’s insanity…
CrAiGiSh
November 26, 2020 at 09:13
What a joke …
Yozzie
November 26, 2020 at 09:13
https://media.tenor.com/images/c37e40930ae6ea4b03b854c8f196ae48/tenor.gif
Du4098
November 26, 2020 at 09:33
But WHY?! Multichoice is already offering enough crap. All they are trying to do is force streaming services to pay for their sub-par content.
Skyblue
November 26, 2020 at 12:29
I would go with “continent” but that would not be very PC.
Du4098
November 26, 2020 at 12:29
Big OOF but undoubtedly true.
HvR
December 2, 2020 at 10:40
This and whole lot of other legislation is seems this has a lot more to do with the ANC government starting to put measures in place to control our access to information and freedom of expression of speech as they implement their “new normal”
HairyEwok
November 26, 2020 at 10:08
Can’t wait to watch Generations, 7de Laan, Motswako, Muvhango & Takalani Sesame on Netflix https://media2.giphy.com/media/xT9IgChJ6U9gWOy0Mg/giphy.gif
Kenn Gibson
November 26, 2020 at 12:05
https://media2.giphy.com/media/I8nepxWwlEuqI/giphy.gif
Jawaka
December 2, 2020 at 03:55
No thanks. I know that this is currently about S Africa but one you open the floodgates.. And all that would do is raise costs as locals would demand more and more money. Next thing you know there would be hidden fees on top of my Netflix bill like Comcast does..
lol and besides, could local channels even provide 30% of what Netflix offers?
Mark Treloar
December 2, 2020 at 10:18
So watching the video. at 1:19:13 is very disturbing
HvR
December 2, 2020 at 10:40
Old National Party tendencies keep on peaking its head out on this government.
Mark Treloar
December 2, 2020 at 10:52
Still that’s a serious abuse of power and if by some miracle they succeed and its passed we are screwed