Television Hunger Strike Press Conference
Posted on 9/10/2009 at 11:22:31 AM
7 September 2009
PRESS RELEASE
What started as one TV producer expressing his outrage at the SABC’s slashing of local content by going on a hunger strike has gathered unprecedented momentum. As Michael Lee enters the fifth week of his hunger strike, three new hunger strikers have entered their second week and a fifth member has joined the campaign.
This is not a media prank, nor is it a death threat. The hunger action is a carefully considered, rational statement about the starving of an industry through mismanagement, arrogance and a lack of planning by the SABC.
The media is now invited to engage with the hunger strikers and to ask questions and hear their statements as well as their personal motivations. Photographers will also be given the opportunity to document the strikers.
When and Where
Wednesday 9 September at 10am at Atlas Studios, Milpark
Of further interest, the hunger protestors have started a blog at www.hungerprotest.wordpress.com and request everyone to visit it. Furthermore, social network sites are growing with viewer anger at the SABC’s slashing of local content and its massive schedule of repeats currently running in prime time.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: tvcrisis@gmail.com
Disclaimer: Although not a formal action of the TV Industry Emergency Coalition (TVIEC), we continue to offer any aid we can to the protestors and will also be in attendance on Wednesday. We have requested that all hunger strikers receive medical attention and find it most unfortunate that the strikers have been forced to continue with their action, a clear sign of the desperation of our industry’s current situation.
Continued call for Information
We are still asking for information from production companies. The TVIEC has been called upon to quantify the extent of the collateral damage of the SABC’s financial and management problems.
We need to be able to say:
1. How many production companies have closed down
2. How many have retrenched full time employees?
3. What percentage revenue has your company decreased this year as a direct result of the SABC problems?
We know that it’s difficult for companies to disclose this kind of information – but we are really trying hard to get the government to intervene in this matter and we need to have hard facts in order to convince them. So we’d be very grateful if you could send us information – and of course your names and the specific information will of course be kept confidential. If you have not yet responded, please send information totvcrisis@gmail.com.
Continued call for Funds
The TVIEC kitty is almost empty. This is an urgent appeal to companies and individuals to please make a donation to help us keep fighting for change at the SABC and to keep lobbying government. If you can spare R1 000 that would be great, but any amount will be a help. As per our last mass meeting, we are wanting to retain legal advice to look at pro bono action against the SABC. If you can help, please mailtvcrisis@gmail.com.
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).