Johannesburg - The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) unveiled a new state-of-the-art high definition (HD) studio at its headquarters in Johannesburg on Wednesday, just in time for the Rugby World Cup in England.
Communications Minister Faith Muthambi commended the public broadcaster for continuing to punch above its weight and in ensuring that viewers at home have access to high-quality sports content.
“I must also commend the SABC leadership for ensuring that the majority of our people will have an opportunity to watch our national rugby team, Amabhokobhoko, participating in the Rugby World Cup tournament which will start on Saturday.
“To put the cherry on top, the broadcast of the Rugby World Cup 2015 will be in full high definition quality. I have no doubt that the 2015 Rugby World Cup coverage will be exceptional,” she said.
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)
The Minister said that as the country counts down to the official launch of broadcasting digital migration, it was encouraging to see that the public broadcaster was gearing itself towards the switch from analogue to digital.
“I’m told the new studio and its top of the range specifications will enable the SABC to be more ready for DTT. I understand that the facilities have been built in such a way that it will be easy to adapt to the variations that DTT comes with in terms of broadcasting,” she said.
Also speaking at the launch of the new multi-purpose studio and set which will service both the SABC’s sports and news desks, SABC Chief Operations Officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, said with the high definition studio, the SABC was now competing with the best broadcasters in the world.
“This not only indicates our readiness to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting, but it also marks the beginning of change for both SABC sport and news ... The launch of this studio also confirms that we are in a sustainable financial position.”
His sentiments were echoed by the SABC's new Chief Financial Officer, James Aguma.
“The unveiling of the studio, which cost us about R39 million, is testament that the SABC is in a solid financial state. We have R1 billion in cash, which is a fact. We’re in a net position, which is a fact … and we have also managed to reduce our audit findings significantly.
“The launch of the modern studio is testimony that the public broadcaster is moving in the right direction. We see ourselves as a company that is going to be exemplified as properly run and carrying out its mandate of informing, educating and entertaining.”
Aguma said the public should be proud of their public broadcaster in that they can see the product of their TV licences money.
“We want people to continue paying their TV licences and we will be able to create the best public broadcaster not only on the African continent, but in the world.” - SAnews.gov.za
