NBC faces piracy accusations from South African broadcaster
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has been accused of piracy and unlawful copyright infringement by South African broadcaster e.tv, following the alleged unauthorised broadcast of content owned by the media company and its licensors.
In a cease-and-desist letter dated 21 January 2026, e.tv alleges that NBC broadcast content from channels owned by the e.tv group without any contractual entitlement. The letter claims that the content was aired across several NBC platforms, including material originally broadcast on e.tv, eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra, ePlesier, eSeries, eReality and eToonz.
According to the letter, the content in question is protected by copyright and is either owned by e.tv or licensed to the company by third-party rights holders. E.tv describes itself as South Africa’s largest privately owned free-to-air broadcaster, with more than 25 years of operation and international licensing agreements with major content producers.
The letter states that no contractual or legal relationship exists between e.tv and NBC that would permit the Namibian public broadcaster to use or rebroadcast the content. It further accuses NBC of “blatant piracy of content and copyright infringement”.
E.tv demanded that NBC immediately cease using all content associated with the e.tv brand, remove it from all platforms — both linear and digital — including programme schedules and electronic programme guides, and end any association with the company’s trademarks or branding.
The broadcaster was given until close of business on 22 January 2026 to confirm compliance.
E.tv further warned that it would instruct Namibian attorneys to pursue urgent court action should NBC fail to comply with the demands. It also reserved the right to institute civil claims for damages and lay criminal or regulatory complaints with relevant authorities, including the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN).
Responding to questions last Friday, outgoing NBC director general Stanley Similo confirmed that the broadcaster had received a complaint from e.tv but rejected allegations of unlawful conduct.
Similo said the disputed content had been distributed to NBC through a third-party rights holder, stressing that NBC operates within established legal and governance frameworks.
“The NBC is a statutory entity established by law and operates in full compliance with all applicable governance, business, and regulatory frameworks,” Similo said.
He explained that, in the normal course of business, NBC enters into service level agreements with service providers across the broadcasting value chain, either directly or indirectly, with broadcast rights often negotiated and managed through third parties.
“Upon receipt of the complaint from eTV, the matter was immediately escalated to the NBC board [of directors] and executive management,” Similo said.
He added that, as a precautionary measure, the affected channel was repurposed and that NBC had formally communicated with the parties directly involved. NBC has also ceased using the content in question pending the finalisation of the legal process between the relevant third parties.
“The NBC remains committed to lawful, transparent broadcasting operations and will provide further updates should this be necessary,” Similo said.
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In a cease-and-desist letter dated 21 January 2026, e.tv alleges that NBC broadcast content from channels owned by the e.tv group without any contractual entitlement. The letter claims that the content was aired across several NBC platforms, including material originally broadcast on e.tv, eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra, ePlesier, eSeries, eReality and eToonz.
According to the letter, the content in question is protected by copyright and is either owned by e.tv or licensed to the company by third-party rights holders. E.tv describes itself as South Africa’s largest privately owned free-to-air broadcaster, with more than 25 years of operation and international licensing agreements with major content producers.
The letter states that no contractual or legal relationship exists between e.tv and NBC that would permit the Namibian public broadcaster to use or rebroadcast the content. It further accuses NBC of “blatant piracy of content and copyright infringement”.
E.tv demanded that NBC immediately cease using all content associated with the e.tv brand, remove it from all platforms — both linear and digital — including programme schedules and electronic programme guides, and end any association with the company’s trademarks or branding.
The broadcaster was given until close of business on 22 January 2026 to confirm compliance.
E.tv further warned that it would instruct Namibian attorneys to pursue urgent court action should NBC fail to comply with the demands. It also reserved the right to institute civil claims for damages and lay criminal or regulatory complaints with relevant authorities, including the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN).
Responding to questions last Friday, outgoing NBC director general Stanley Similo confirmed that the broadcaster had received a complaint from e.tv but rejected allegations of unlawful conduct.
Similo said the disputed content had been distributed to NBC through a third-party rights holder, stressing that NBC operates within established legal and governance frameworks.
“The NBC is a statutory entity established by law and operates in full compliance with all applicable governance, business, and regulatory frameworks,” Similo said.
He explained that, in the normal course of business, NBC enters into service level agreements with service providers across the broadcasting value chain, either directly or indirectly, with broadcast rights often negotiated and managed through third parties.
“Upon receipt of the complaint from eTV, the matter was immediately escalated to the NBC board [of directors] and executive management,” Similo said.
He added that, as a precautionary measure, the affected channel was repurposed and that NBC had formally communicated with the parties directly involved. NBC has also ceased using the content in question pending the finalisation of the legal process between the relevant third parties.
“The NBC remains committed to lawful, transparent broadcasting operations and will provide further updates should this be necessary,” Similo said.
[email protected]
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