28 May 2009
CALL FOR MUSICIANS TO JOIN THE TV CRISIS MARCH
The television industry is staging a protest action against the SABC on 4 June 2009. This is a call to the music industry to express your solidarity and join us. The crisis affects you too.
The entire television industry is reeling because of the SABC’s monetary and management crisis – writers, producers, actors, crew and all related service providers, including the musicians who compose our scores and whose music is broadcast on SABC TV and radio.
The SABC’s growing non-payment status quo will sooner or later affect the payment of music rights and royalties. For years the broadcaster has promised to treat musicians more fairly, but still there has been precious little progress in securing licensing fees for music used in SABC television properties. In fact, budgets today are smaller than they were seven years ago – and this includes the budgets for music. It’s time to say enough is enough!
The TVIEC is taking action in the form of a protest march in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In order for us to make a significant impact, we are calling on the general public as well as high profile individuals to join the protest – especially the actors, presenters and musicians who star in our productions. The public relate to the crisis particularly when they see that their favourite stars and shows are affected and impacted by the manner in which the SABC is handling the situation.
The action will be a peaceful protest and will be controlled by marshals. It is important to stress that we are adopting a positive tone. The TVIEC is fighting FOR the SABC – for a transparent, fair and sustainable SABC that upholds the values of a credible and responsible public broadcaster, respectful of the South African public and its key partner in content supply – the local production sector, their casts and crews.
THE TV CRISIS MARCH
- Date: Thursday 4th June 2009
- 10.30: Joburg - Gather at Atlas Studios in Milpark for rally
- 12.00: Cape Town - Gather on grass in front of SABC
- 12.00: Joburg - March to SABC
- 13.00: Joburg and Cape Town - march and picket at SABC
- 13.45: Joburg - Hand over memorandum
OUR CONTACT: tvcrisis@gmail.com
This letter is written on behalf of the TVIEC (Television Industry Emergency Coalition) which consists of: IPO (Independent Producers Organization), SASFED (South African Screen Federation), TPA (The Producers Alliance), DFA (Documentary Filmmakers Association), WGSA (Writers Guild of South Africa) as well as the CWU (Creative Workers Union).
