WildEarth vs MultiChoice saga: 'The last thing we want is to come off DStv'
The wildlife programme will cease to exist on the DStv platform by the end of April.
Picture: Supplied
Gugs Mhlungu spoke to WildEarth Chairperson, André Crawford-Brunt.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
WildEarth has been broadcasting on DStv channel 183 for just over three years.
Crawford-Brunt says despite their initial agreement with MultiChoice that they would not be paid, that agreement has now become unsustainable.
He adds that even though they were not being compensated, they were still required to pay broadcast fees.
"A year ago I started engaging with MultiChoice to say come on guys we produce more local content than anyone else, we've built a large and passionate audience, we were a huge lifeline to many through Covid, we need to get paid."
- André Crawford-Brunt, WildEarth Chairperson
Crawford-Brunt explains that the last thing they wanted to do was come off DStv.
"...we feel that MultiChoice has given us zero options. They have adopted a head-in-the-sand approach - we think that's wrong."
- André Crawford-Brunt, WildEarth Chairperson
"The media business has been challenged, but it's been a dance for over a year with lots of unfulfilled promises, lots of suggestions that things would happen and change... ultimately these guys just wanted us to continue kicking the can down the road and that just wasn't an option for us."
- André Crawford-Brunt, WildEarth Chairperson
"The most disappointing part is the fact that we represent everything good about this country, tourism, education, conservation...this programme is a lifeline for so many people with mental health or loneliness issues and it's their escape into nature."
- André Crawford-Brunt, WildEarth Chairperson
There has been a huge outcry from fans of the popular wildlife channel following the announcement that it will no longer be available on DStv come the end of April.
Loyal viewers have drawn up petitions and fundraising campaigns appealing to MultiChoice to keep the channel alive.
Thousands of people have so far signed the petitions and more than R4 million has reportedly been raised from the fundraising initiatives.
Scroll up to listen to the full interview.