Streaming Giants and Public Broadcasters: A New Model for Africa?

South African lawmakers are proposing a unique solution to support their struggling state broadcaster, the SABC—a partnership with global streaming giant Netflix. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies believes this collaboration could help revitalize the local film industry and ensure public media remains sustainable in the digital age.

The proposal comes as the SABC faces mounting financial challenges, including declining TV license revenue and increased competition from online platforms. In 2025 alone, the broadcaster lost R253.3 million ($14 million), a significant increase from the previous year.

Lawmakers argue that Netflix, while offering entertainment options to South African consumers, has contributed to this shift by operating outside strict local content regulations and capturing advertising revenue that once supported public media.

The proposed partnership could involve joint content production or a streaming levy on international platforms—similar to models being explored in other countries—to help fund the SABC’s recovery.