NATIONAL NEWS - Netflix, one of the world’s most popular content streaming platforms, presented its case on South Africa’s proposed regulation of online content during public hearings yesterday (May 31).
The regulations seek to harness economic contributions from platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and were published in a draft white paper late last year.
The white paper reflected government’s recognition of the convergence of technologies and content. Upon recognising this and its effect on how we produce, disseminate and consume content, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies sought a sector reform.
According to Netflix’s Shola Sanni, this is in line with international trends. However, when addressing representatives from the department today, she indicated that there could be a less cumbersome way to approach things.
“Allow innovation to lead, rather than leading with regulation,” she suggested, indicating that Netflix was more in favour of ‘self-regulation and light-touch supervision’.
Sanni said that, in the absence of the contemplated regulations, Netflix has already joined hands with the country’s Film and Publications Board to ensure that content accessed in South Africa meets legal requirements.
She also responded to the proposition that a portion of content on Netflix must be South African. This was articulated by the department’s chief director of broadcasting policy, Collin Mashile, in Parliament last year.
Sanni explained that such a quota cannot always be implemented, as there is not always enough compelling, quality local content. She said Netflix could not justify airing content simply because it was made in a certain country.
She pointed out that a more practically enforceable alternative exists – according to her, an interest in local content can be stimulated without quotas. This, she claimed, is what Netflix has been doing in South Africa.
She presented the following statistics:
There were many more views of South African titles by households outside of South Africa, than there were by South African households, in the first four weeks of the title’s availability on Netflix.
- Blood and Water S1 – 1:35
- Queen Sono S1 – 1:30
- Seriously Single S1 – 1:56
- Shadow S1 1:62
The public hearings have been scheduled to run until June 14, when the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa will have its say.
