Cable Television Services In South Africa

Cable Television, generally, any system that distributes television signals by means of coaxial or fiber-optic cables. The term also includes systems that distribute signals solely via satellite. Besides bringing high-quality signals to subscribers, the systems provide additional television channels.

Cable Television Services In South Africa

The television market consists of revenues derived from content distribution and advertising (including mobile television). The television subscription and licence fee market consists of revenues generated by distributors of television programming to viewers. It includes spending by consumers on subscriptions
to basic and premium channels accessed from satellite providers, telephone companies as well as public television licence fees.

The television advertising market consists of advertiser spending in and around TV programmes that are distributed over the air, through satellite or other TV distribution services, advertising on TV websites and mobile TV advertising. Net television advertising figures consist of spending minus agency commissions and discounts.

Multichannel advertising refers to advertising on networks that are accessed by viewers via satellite broadcasting services. Terrestrial advertising consists of advertising generated by free-to-air broadcast networks that can be received through a traditional analogue television receiver even if viewers can also receive such service through a satellite service.

Television at a glance Outlook

Television market (R millions) 2011 2016 2012-16
CAGR (%)

Broadcast advertising 10 000 14 500 7.7

Online TV advertising 13 44 27.6

Mobile TV advertising 2 40 82.1

Total TV advertising 10 015 14 584 7.8

Subscription spending 11 988 21 831 12.7

Public television license fees 1 042 1 081 0.7

Mobile TV subscriptions 6 55 55.8

Total TV subscriptions 13 036 22 967 12.0

Total spending 23 051 37 551 10.3

The South African Broadcast Corporation (SABC) is facing increased competition from pay television, which is attracting viewers and will face increased competition as DTT is rolled out. The SABC is still considering enlisting pay TV providers to help collect TV licence fees.

The overall TV market rose 13.4% in 2011, fuelled principally by a 23.8% rise in subscription spending. Advertising growth slowed to 4.2% from the 28.0% increase seen in 2010 as spending associated with the 2010 FIFA World Cup left the market.

We project broadcast advertising growth to improve 7.9% in 2012 and to average 7.7% compounded annually to R14.5 billion in 2016. Helped by an expanding broadband household base, the online television advertising market is likely to more than triple during the next five years to R44 million in 2016 from R13 million in 2011.

The launch of mobile TV in 2011 created a new advertising revenue stream that we expect will reach R40 million by 2016. Together, online and mobile television advertising will total an estimated R84 million in 2016.

Total television advertising is projected to increase at a 7.8% compound annual rate to R14.6 billion in 2016

Why is cable TV so expensive In South Africa?

But the reason cable companies charge other fees like the broadcast fee and regional sports fee is because the broadcasting and sports industries increasingly charge cable companies more money to provide those channels — and so cable companies just turn around and pass that cost right on to consumers.

How much does cable TV cost In South Africa?

Canadians spent an average of8 R 18.55 on paid television services—which includes cable and satellite TV—per month in 2017 according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s 2019 Communications Monitoring Report. But that’s just the average cost.

Is cable TV better than streaming In South Africa?

Price. If price is your main deciding factor, there’s no question — streaming is a better option than cable even if you choose a live TV streaming service like fuboTV. The budget-conscious will appreciate the consistent prices most streaming services offer compared to cable TV.

Is it worth having cable TV In South Africa?

Buying the equipment to cut the cord is a bit of a hit to the wallet, but you are still saving in year one compared to cable. So the answer is yes. Cutting the cord is still worth it. You can even save a lot of money.