TopTV chief steps down

On Digital Media chief executive Vino Govender has stepped down from the South African pay TV platform after subsidiary TopTV’s failed attempted to launch an adult channel. 


Govender reportedly clashed with the company’s shareholders, including the Congress of South African Trade Union’s investment arm, over the bid to launch the 24-hour channel, which was refused a permit from the country’s regulator the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

TopTV had already signed a deal with the content arm of Playboy TV in the UK and Benelux for content for the channel before receiving the verdict from Icasa.

Company chairman Eddie Mbalo will be On Digital Media’s interim CEO.

“It is time for fresh blood to take the business to new heights and I am confident the board will implement and achieve its strategic plans,” said Govender in his leaving statement.