Comments on the Public Service Broadcasting Bill closed on 15 January 2010 but not before the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) submitted its comments.
The National Youth Development Agency has expressed its support towards the introduction of the Public Service Broadcasting Bill, particularly the focus on the developmental goals of the country. These include the creation of a competitive local content industry and a local content advisory body.
As the Public Broadcaster looks set to make some changes into its operations, including programming content, the National Youth Development Agency as a custodian for youth development has made a number of recommendations into the bill, including more efforts towards the use of educational and informative content aimed at the development of young people.
“The overwhelming evidence of mainstreaming and integrating youth development in the bill is welcome and should be applauded by the youth sector at large,” says National Youth Development Agency Chairperson Andile Lungisa.
The National Youth Development Agency further welcomes the pronouncement on section 12 (4) which would promulgate the launch of additional channels saying it would add significant value to the lives of many South Africans especially the youth.
The National Youth Development Agency is of the view that in as much as the additional channel dedicated to youth is welcome, this should however not translate into absolving the other channels of their responsibility to mainstream youth development. Young people constitute the largest part of our population and content on all channels should reflect this. Some of this content should also be developed by young people.
Furthermore the National Youth Development Agency has made a call for changes to the channel that is geared towards broadcasting school curriculum related content, saying the programmes should no longer be broadcast during school hours when those that are meant to access it are unable to view it, deeming the otherwise useful information redundant.
“We also view in a serious light the competition that the private broadcasting services pose to the public broadcasting service and believe that although regulatory frameworks and bodies already exist, careful consideration should be made with a view to ensure that public broadcasting remains the first choice for the majority of the people,” concludes Lungisa.
For information contact:
Siyabonga Magadla
Cell: 083 686 9016
Linda Mbongwa
Cell: 082 315 3217
