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IOL News
19-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Concerns over Canal+ and Multichoice merger: impact on local content producers
Jack Devnarain Image: Instagram Local content producers and actors are concerned that the French Television Giant Canal+'s acquisition of Multichoice may lead to fewer local productions and could lead to an increase in unemployment for those working in the entertainment industry, especially those dependent on commissions from Multichoice. The Competition Commission Tribunal hearing this week, focused on public interest clauses of the merger, especially around commitments to support local content creators and historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs). Regulators and commissioners sought to understand how local content creators and HPDs will be supported under the merged entity. Canal+ and MultiChoice had committed to obligations to continue procuring goods and services from a diverse group of beneficiaries, including HDP firms, small and medium enterprises (SMMEs), and South African content creators. Concerns were raised during Thursday's hearing on whether the wording under Clause 7 of the merger conditions was explicit enough to assure beneficiaries—particularly local content producers—that they are covered under the commitments. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Competition Tribunal panel also queried Canal+ and Multichoice on the basis for monetary commitments related to local content procurement and HDP participation. However, specific amounts set for this by the merging parties remain confidential, although they explained that these figures were derived from historical and projected expenditure data covering a three-year period. They said they had made financial commitments to reflect average spend based on past and future spending to ensure that support for local content and HDP firms is maintained—not diminished—after the merger. 'To be clear, these are not additional or new commitments—they are meant to safeguard ongoing procurement activity, especially given that there was no certainty these would continue if the merger didn't proceed,' explained the merging parties.' These commitments are part of a broader set of public interest conditions tied to the merger, designed to ensure that local economic development, transformation, and content diversity are not compromised by foreign control of one of Africa's largest media platforms. However Jack Devnarain, veteran actor and chairperson of the South African Guild of Actors, said they didn't have any expectations of Canal+ which was here to 'play the game' in an unregulated industry, which he believes was a 'huge attraction' for them. 'From the actor's point of view, we are always suspicious of mergers such as this because typically, given that we are in an unregulated industry, it means that actors are the last to get any benefit whatsoever from the transaction. 'We are the last to have our rights protected in any way, and we are deeply concerned that while all this content is going to find a new home, that actors are going to be left without new opportunities for work.' Devnarain said that Ideally they would like to engage with Canal+ on various issues like a new contractual agreement in which they can secure commercial exploitation fees in contract, and even if old content is re-versioned and dubbed, that actors will receive some residual income. 'We're not optimistic about that at all, simply because we know Africa, African content, African filmmakers and broadcasters are typically the ones to be exploited when it comes to the arrival of the European or American broadcasters or streamers. The Global North has always sought opportunities to exploit the content opportunities emanating from the Global South and Africa has always been ripe because we are incredibly diverse in our linguistic content, in the cultural content and in the incredible locations that we have.' Devnarain described it as a new form of colonisation where international conglomerates and corporate players from the Global North find wonderful opportunities in the Global South, and again exploit the talent that comes out of South Africa and Africa, without compensating them. The merger between Multichoice and Canal+ will be subject to a restructuring exercise under to ring-fence MultiChoice's licensed broadcasting entity, MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd. This unit will be hived off into a standalone company, LicenseCo in line with local regulatory requirements. After settlement of the merger, the combined group will have no interest or control in LicenseCo. However, details of the this carve-out structure for LicenseCo remain confidential. LicenceCo will be majority-owned by previously disadvantaged and black economic empowerment companies, with MultiChoice Group holding a 49% interest. Canal+ has however previously said that it was still engaging with Phuthima Nathi which has been earmarked to hold a 27% interest in LicenceCo although the board has already given its support for the transaction. Black-owned and managed companies, Identity Partners Itai Consortium and Afrifund Consortium, have also been roped into LicenceCo, bringing 'highly experienced leaders' with 'great commercial and industry' knowledge. Regulators are expected to consider these clarifications as they finalize their decision on whether the merger may proceed under South Africa's competition and public interest laws. The merger awaits final regulatory and competition approvals. Denvnarain said they are concerned that work that was already produced would be dubbed and sold to new markets and the actors not compensated for it. 'Because those rights didn't exist under the MNet or KYKNet agreements, we don't expect that Canal+ is going to come into South Africa and acknowledge rights that our own South African broadcaster refused to give us. So, we don't see the upside as actors unless we are creating new content for the new owners under a new contractual regime where we are able to secure commercial exploitation rights. 'And again, it's unheard of to secure commercial exploitation rights in a contract if your industry itself is an unregulated industry.'
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
PKK disarmament signals 'new era' in Kurdish peace push, says DEM party
Istanbul: Turkiye's pro-Kurdish DEM party on Friday hailed a "new era" following a historic disarmament ceremony at which PKK fighters began destroying their weapons after ending decades of armed struggle. "With the PKK's arms burning ceremony, we are entering a new era for a solution to the Kurdish issue and the construction of a democratic Turkiye," the party said in a statement, describing it as "a turning point" for the Middle East. The party, which played a key role in facilitating contacts between Ankara and jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, also filed a request for the release of Selahattin Demirtas, the former head of the pro-Kurdish HDP party, which later became DEM. "We have filed a request with the Ankara (court) for the release of the former HDP co-chairs... who have been unlawfully held hostage for years," it said. The charismatic 52-year-old has been jailed since 2016 and last year, was sentenced to 42 years for his alleged role in a series of deadly protests that happened a decade earlier. The statement also referred to his former co-chair Figen Yuksekdag, 53, who was sentenced in 2024 to 30 years on charges of terrorist propaganda. "We wholeheartedly salute this historic initiative for disarmament and transition to democratic politics by the Group for Peace and Democratic Society," DEM said, referring to the group that destroyed its weapons earlier on Friday.
Rudaw Net
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Turkey's Erdogan grants amnesty to ill Kurdish prisoner
Also in Turkey Erdogan vows action against magazine over alleged religious insult DEM Party pushes for parliamentary commission to shape PKK peace process DEM Party says Ankara-PKK peace process reached 'important' stage Erdogan says to meet with pro-Kurdish party soon A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lifted the sentence of 81-year-old Kurdish prisoner Kerim Boran, who suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, a pro-Kurdish media outlet reported on Monday. Mezopotamya Agency (MA) said that Erdogan signed the decree upon the justice ministry's request. Boran is expected to be released, though no date has been specified. The presidency and state media have not commented. Boran was held in Edirne F-Type Prison, a high-security facility in Turkey's north, known for housing political prisoners and those serving aggravated sentences. MA reported that Boran and eight other elderly individuals were sentenced in 2021 for allegedly participating in the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) Igdir Justice Commission and mediating family disputes. Authorities viewed the initiative as an extension of HDP's political activities, and prosecutors charged the members under Turkey's anti-terror laws. Despite suffering from multiple chronic illnesses, including Parkinson's and heart failure, and an official medical report confirming his frailty, Boran remained imprisoned until his lawyer requested presidential amnesty. The justice ministry forwarded the request to Erdogan in September 2024, citing his deteriorating health. The HDP, long accused by the Turkish government of ties to the PKK, has since transferred its political work to the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), now the main pro-Kurdish party in parliament. The DEM Party played a key role in mediating the peace talks that led jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to call on his group to disband. The first batch of PKK fighters is expected to lay down arms in the Kurdistan Region next month, informed sources told Rudaw on Monday. Erdogan met with the DEM delegation in April and on Wednesday said he is expected to meet them again upon their request
Shafaq News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
President Barzani stresses peace process importance to Bakirhan
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani underscored the need to revive and sustain the peace process in Turkiye during a phone call with Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), marking Eid al-Adha. Bakırhan extended holiday greetings on behalf of himself and the HDP, wishing the people of Kurdistan continued progress and stability, according to a statement from Barzani's office. He also praised Barzani's longstanding support for the peace process, urging him to maintain his influential role in guiding efforts toward a lasting resolution. Barzani thanked Bakırhan for the call and emphasized the urgency of not missing this opportunity, calling on all sides to work collectively to ensure the process moves forward.
Saba Yemen
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Ocalan Calls for New Pact Based on "Brotherhood" Between Kurds,Turks
Istanbul - (Saba): In a new message from prison, the leader of the disbanded Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, called for a new pact "based on brotherhood" to reform Kurdish-Turkish relations. Kurdish media reported that Öcalan said in his message: "There is a need for a new pact based on brotherhood. What we are doing is a major change in the paradigm." He continued: "The essence of the Kurdish-Turkish relationship is something completely different. What is being destroyed is the relationship between brothers. Brothers and sisters are fighting, and one cannot exist without the other. We will remove the traps and debris that are destroying this relationship, one by one, and repair all the damaged roads and collapsed bridges." Öcalan's message was revealed by a delegation from the Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Türkiye after a visit to Imrali Prison to meet with Öcalan. This visit by the HDP delegation, which included parliamentarian Pervin Buldan and lawyer Faik Özgür Oral, marked the fifth visit by the party's delegates to Öcalan and the first since the PKK announced its disbandment and disarmament. The first visit by the HDP delegation to Öcalan took place on December 28, 2024, followed by a second visit on January 22, which lasted approximately four hours. Following the third visit, which included a seven-person delegation, the party delegation held a press conference in Istanbul on February 27, during which they revealed Öcalan's letter calling on the PKK to disband and disarm, emphasizing his historical responsibility for this call. On April 21, the party delegation made its fourth visit to Öcalan. In recent days, the PKK announced it would hold a conference during which it decided to disband the party and lay down its weapons. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
