Multichoice dumps ANN7

OUTA calls for Multichoice to scrap “Gupta channel” from DSTV

Outa calls for greater transparency.

Multichoice dumps ANN7

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has asked Multichoice to provide clarity on its position regarding news channel ANN7.

This comes after it was reported on MyBroadBand that the media company and the Gupta-owned pay channel have agreed on a multi-million Rand deal which extends until the end of July 2017.

Outa leader Wayne Duvenaghe warned in an open letter that Multichoice could go down the way of the likes of KPMG and Bell Pottinger if they continue airing the channel.

“Recent revelations of various verifiable sources have indicated that your organisation pays ANN7 at least R50 million, but reportedly R150 million per annum, to broadcast their news content to their subscribers,” Duvenaghe wrote.

“While it’s not our place to interfere in your industry or your company’s rewards mechanism, we also cannot ignore the growing demand of your organisation’s position with ANN7…”

In the letter, Duvenaghe also asked that Multichoice consider pulling the channel because of its possible links to “criminal activities and State Capture”.

“On behalf of thousands of concerned South Africans, we ask you to rethink your continued broadcasting of the ANN7 channel,” he said.

“Accordingly, we remind you of the plight suffered by Bell Pottinger, KPMG, SAP, McKinsey and others, who believed that hiding behind confidentiality and contractual clauses would suffice as reason to continue their unacceptable conduct.

“We are mindful of media freedom and freedom of speech and endorse it ourselves, but we sincerely ask that Multichoice do the right thing by heeding the call by civil society, for greater transparency and decisive action against entities linked to possible criminal activities and State Capture,” Duvenage added.

The channel has been widely criticised since its inception in 2013 for an apparent open bias towards President Jacob Zuma.

Also read: Caught in the act – ANN7 ordered to pay R10 000 for “inaccurate reporting”