Act No. 4, 1999
BROADCASTING ACT, 1999
[Definition of “television licence” inserted by Section 2(v) of Act No. 64 of 2002]
“television licence fee” means a fee prescribed in terms of this Act and payable
for the use of a television set;
[Definition of “television licence fee” inserted by Section 2(v) of Act No. 64 of 2002]
“terrestrial broadcasting service” means a service that is broadcast from a
transmitter situated upon the earth's surface;
“use” means the use or possession of a television set or permitting any other
person to use or possess a television set and the words 'user' and 'used' are
construed accordingly;
[Definition of “use” inserted by Section 2(w) of Act No. 64 of 2002]
“transfer date” …
[Definition of “transfer date” deleted by Section 2(x) of Act No. 64 of 2002]
(2) Any interpretation of the provisions of this Act must be construed and
applied in a manner which is consistent with freedom of expression and the
journalistic, creative and programming independence of the broadcasters
guaranteed by the Constitution.
(3) …
[Subsection (3) deleted by Section 2(y) of Act No. 64 of 2002]
[Section 1 amended by Section 97 of Act No. 36 of 2005]
Object of Act
2.
The object of this Act is to establish and develop a broadcasting policy in the
Republic in the public interest and for that purpose to(a) contribute to democracy, development of society, gender equality, nation
building, provision of education and strengthening the spiritual and
moral fibre of society;
(b) safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and
economic fabric of South Africa;
(c) encourage ownership and control of broadcasting services through
participation by persons from historically disadvantaged groups;
(d) ensure plurality of news, views and information and provide a wide
range of entertainment and education programmes;
(e) cater for a broad range of services and specifically for the programming
needs in respect of children, women, the youth and the disabled;
(f) encourage the development of human resources and training, and
capacity building within the broadcasting sector especially amongst
historically disadvantaged groups;
(g) encourage investment in the broadcasting sector;
(h) ensure fair competition in the broadcasting sector;
(i) ensure efficient use of the broadcasting frequency spectrum;
(j) provide a clear allocation of roles and assignment of tasks between
policy formulation, regulation and service provision as well as
articulation of long-term and intermediate-term goals;
(k) provide for a three tier system of public, commercial and community
broadcasting services;