On Digital Media to appeal porn channel ruling

The application by On Digital Media (ODM) will be heard by Judge Lee Bozalek on December 5.

 

At the beginning of the month, Bozalek ordered the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) to review its decision taken last year to license ODM's porn channels.

 

ODM (operating as Top TV and later StarSat) was granted three licences on April 23 last year to broadcast Playboy TV, Desire TV, and Brazzers, subject to conditions.

 

Icasa's issuing the licences was challenged by the Justice Alliance of SA (Jasa), Doctors for Life, and Cause for Justice, who argued that Icasa erred in making its decision.

 

Icasa and ODM were ordered to pay the applicants' costs. ODM was appealing the whole order, including that of costs.

 

In its appeal application, ODM argued that Icasa's decision was only invalid insofar as it failed to prohibit ODM from broadcasting films that had been classified as "X18", in accordance with the Film and Publications Act.

 

"There was no reason this aspect of the decision could not be remedied by means of severance," it argued in the application.

 

It believed that remitting the decision back to Icasa would lead to unnecessary delay, prejudice and costs.