Five companies – Walking on Water, On Digital Media, e-SAT, Telkom Media and MultiChoice Africa – had been awarded pay TV licences, Icasa announced yesterday.

Initially, 18 companies applied for the broadcasting licence, with three companies – Sentech, Worldspace and Multichannel TV – subsequently withdrawing their applications, according to ITWeb. Icasa revealed that Sentech was a last-minute withdrawal – removing its application on Monday. 'The Authority decided to refuse applications from all 10 remaining applicants,' said Icasa councillor Zolisa Masiza. The regulator will start discussions on the terms and conditions of these licences on October 1.It hoped to have completed this process by mid-November for the smaller players, and the end of November for the large players.

Report: http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/busi...gence&O=FPLEAD