STOP THE TELEVISION BLACKOUT! THE ANALOGUE SWITCH OFF
(ASO) = BLANK TV SCREENS

Remember the days when families would be gathering around the TV to watch their favorite shows on SABC 1, 2, or 3? The era of Gaz’lam, Lesilo Rula, Isidingo, and Muvhango; and the era of Skeem Sam, Uzalo, Morning Live, etc? A memorable occasion for many families, all thanks to free-to-air (FTA) TV.

FTA TV is not just entertainment — it is a lifeline for reliable news, education, and cultural content that reflects our South African stories. In a time when misinformation is rampant, access to trustworthy information is critical. FTA TV is a constitutional right that must be protected, especially for the most vulnerable in our society.

The broadcast digital migration (BDM) program was not implemented
correctly because the government has acknowledged that approximately
447 000 individuals who registered to be migrated have not yet received
their set-up boxes. Furthermore, many impoverished communities were
either unaware of the set-up-box registration deadline or were unable to
register due to a lack of data to register online or a lack of proximity to
post offices, as many post offices have since closed.

The flawed implementation of the broadcast digital migration (BDM) risks
leaving millions of citizens without access to FTA TV. The planned
switch-off of the analogue signal initially planned for the 31st of March 2025 would have left 4.3 million households without access to FTA TV services unless they self-migrate to digital TV platforms such as DTT, DStv or OpenView.

Losing access to FTA TV means losing access to unbiased, reliable news and crucial educational information and it’s a threat to our democracy. By standing together, we can ensure that #NoOneIsLeftBehind!

On 27 March 2025, the Pretoria High Court handed down judgment in the Analogue Switch-Off (ASO) case where it indefinitely suspended the ASO. e.tv, together with MMA and SOS had approached the High Court to delay the Switch-Off set to take place on 31 March 2025. The judgment handed down is a significant victory.

We reiterate our call for the Minister to consult affected parties, including broadcasters and civil society, on the new ASO date. 

JOIN the #SaveFreeTV campaign and help us call for a reasonable ASO date. Together, we can ensure that #NoOneIsLeftBehind.