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The Portfolio Committee on Communications welcomes the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) decision to launch a new television channel called SABC Encore, which is aired on DSTV channel 156. 

“Primed to broadcast old SABC programs, the channel will educate our young generation about where we come from as a country in order for them to appreciate how far we have transformed,” said Ms Joyce Moloi-Moropa, Committee Chairperson.

The channel will be exclusive to pay TV subscribers. The Committee believes it should be accessible on either one of the free-to-air TV platforms including SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3. Although it is required to raise additional funds on top of the 2% seed funding from the national Treasury, the corporation remains a public broadcaster and should be accessible to the public.

The Committee believes that the advent of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project will transform the broadcasting sector in providing quality coverage and access to all SABC TV channels.

Ms Moloi-Moropa reiterated that while the Committee applauds SABC for the job well done, the corporation should not relent on the task at hand, which is to transform channels SABC1-3 to reflect locally based content. 

Issued by Parliament Commincations Committee