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Gaborone - Botswana regulators have indicated they may be ready to grant a licence for a new African pay-TV network, increasing the likelihood that South Africa's DStv could face a continent-wide rival, officials said on Monday.
Black Entertainment Satellite Television (BEStv), to be based in Gaborone and owned by Johannesburg-based Black Earth Communications, said it was optimistic it could strike a licence deal with the National Broadcasting Board of Botswana.
"Clearly, we are delighted by this offer and we look forward to operating as a licensed Pay TV service in Africa," BEStv spokesperson Andrew Jones said, adding that several terms and conditions remained to be worked out in
ongoing talks.
"We are very optimistic however that these matters will be settled and that we will be able to move forward and be up and
running this year as a licensed operator."
Masego Mpotokwane, head of Botswana's broadcasting board, confirmed that it had told BEStv it was willing to offer a
licence once its conditions are met.
"It will be up the applicant to fulfil those conditions," he told Reuters without elaborating.
Jones said BEStv - which owners say will target Africa's emerging black middle class - would now move forward with
finalising its service provider and management teams and approaching the capital markets for funding.
"We've had quite a few feelers, but now we can talk seriously about what it takes to do this. I think those in the capital market who know the media industry understand clearly the potential of the Pay TV market in Africa. So further funding
shouldn't be a problem."
DStv, owned by South African media company Naspers' MultiChoice unit, broadcasts more than 55 TV channels, including
CNBC news, SuperSport and Africa's new version of youth music channel MTV, to more than 1.2 million subscribers in
almost 50 African countries.
FIN24 is owned by Media24, which is a subsidiary of Naspers.