The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is gratified by data released by the Broadcast Research Council (BRC) showing that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has increased its market share and leads the 24-hour news market. The BRC data shows SABC's national market share across digital terrestrial television and satellite platforms at 42% and 40% respectively. With 80% of the national news audience, the SABC is well-positioned as a public broadcaster to educate and inform the nation during the COVID-19 outbreak. CWU believes the SABC remains vital for government and humanitarian work and that a sound funding model for the public broadcaster is needed, including a broadcasting levy on online streaming platforms.

1. C W U
C OMMUNICATION W ORKERS U NION
CWU PRESS RELEASE
TO: ALL MEDIA HOUSES
FROM: COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
DATE: 10 MAY 2020
CWU GRATIFIED WITH THE DATA RELEASED ON THE SABC BY THE
BROADCAST RESEARCH COUNCIL
Communication Workers Union (CWU) learnt with excitement, the latest data by the
Broadcast Research Council (BRC) on Thursday, 7 May 2020; that SABC is leading the
pack. The increase of its market share as the SABC news channel leads the 24-hour
news market as outlined by BRC, demonstrated the talent and commitment of SABC
workers. As CWU, we have always advocated for SABC to be supported and defended
during difficult times, when some of our destructors were calling for some component of
the Public Broadcaster to sold. The BRC data shows an improved market share
performance of 42% and 40% in the national markets including DTT and DStv
respectively. We cannot praise a fish for swimming, however; it must be applauded that
on free-to-air television news audiences, out of 10 viewed news products nationally; 8
are broadcast on SABC 1 and 2, with IsiZulu and IsiXhosa news bulletins sitting on top
with more than 4.5 million viewers.
With so much penetration, (80% news audience - national) the Public Broadcaster is the
right vehicle to educate, inform and update the nation during the outbreak of the
COVID-19. This also means that it remains a vital tool for the government, the NGO’s
and other important humanitarian work to be done via the public broadcaster, and much
of this work does not generate revenue. Therefore, a call for a sound new model of the
Public Broadcaster funding remains relevant, with the state playing a critical role. CWU
still believe that the OTT’s must pay a broadcasting levy as part of the
comprehensive funding model system. We are pleased that SABC is continuing to

2. spread its wings on the online platforms (OTT’s) such as the YouTube and doing very
well as they added some of our indigenous languages.
We are further committed to build a competitive public broadcaster that will produce
high quality content and reward its workers accordingly. We further condemn all the
efforts to discredit the Public Broadcaster and attempts to reverse the salary increases
agreement which was signed two years ago for SABC workers.
The end
Issued by the Office of the General Secretary
Contact:
CWU General Secretary
Aubrey Tshabalala
Cell: 061 481 1080