On Digital Media (ODM), owner of TopTV, has made its case to be allowed to broadcast pornography at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) public hearings.
The broadcaster wants to add three pornographic channels to its bouquet, with ICASA putting the case to public hearing.
“In a democracy, adult citizens are free to make the choices that suit them within the rule of law,” chief executive officer (CEO) Eddie Mbalo told the hearings. “It is not the role of the state, the church, or any other body to dictate to people how they behave, as long as no one is harmed in the process.”
The regulator blocked one previous attempt to launch the channels in 2012.
Mbalo quoted a survey where 71 per cent of respondents said adults had the “right to watch pornography” in their own home, with 51 per cent saying they would likely subscribe to the channels. The respondents were already TopTV subscribers.
“The content does not contravene law on hate speech or incitement to violence. There is no law prohibiting the proposed adult content. In fact, we will show that refusal of channel authorisation would be unlawful and unconstitutional,” Mbalo said.
The public hearings are taking place at ICASA’s Sandton offices.
Organisations that will be responding to the hearing include: the Family Policy Institute, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Free Society Institute, Doctors for Life, Africa Christian Action, South African Society for Sexuality Education, Shofar Christian Church, Free Society Institute Active for Jesus, WoomaNetRadio Free Society Institute.
