The Sunday Mail
PERENNIAL financial problems for national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), could soon be a thing of the past.
The impending digital migration, whose deadline is less than four months away, will see ZBC introducing channels that will only be accessible through subscription.
Acting chief executive officer Mr Patrick Mavhura said the switch-over from analogue to digital is at an advanced stage.
“When it comes to revenue streams, the ZBC intends to introduce channels that will be accessible only after paying a subscription fee. Added to that, the multiple channels will mean more advertising space and more choice,” he said.
Mavhura said the process of digitalisation involves a number of stakeholders, among them Transmedia, Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and ZBC.
In terms of content, which seems to give ZBC headaches even as they run just one and half stations, ZTV 1 and 2, Mavhura says it is under control.
“There is an internal project team that is 100 percent dedicated to the generation and stocking of content for the new channels. As you might be aware, we have been running an advert on television and radio calling for concepts and programmes from independent producers.
“The process is on-going and this according to our plan will guarantee enough content for the multiple channels. Digital migration will give the ZBC an opportunity to expand on the genres it will broadcast to its audiences. We intend to offer sport, children’s programming, 24-hour news and current affairs, formal and informal educational programmes, dramas, comedies, social documentaries, soaps and films/movies, among others.
Mavhura says Zimbabweans do not have to worry about the quality of programmes as it is one of his priorities.
“In terms of quality, the ZBC is planning to give Zimbabweans the best, that is, high definition (HD). It then follows that our local producers will have to adhere to the new ZBC technical specifications which are compatible with the new technology. These have been worked on and we will soon meet with the producers to discuss the new developments.”
The Zimbabwe broadcasting industry is one of the many in the region that have to quickly move away from the analogue platform to digital. Coupled with an ongoing cleansing ceremony, instigated by the Ministry if Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, which has seen top management falling by the wayside and fresh minds coming in, ZBC seems to be on the rise.
Recently, the institution started paying off its debts, which went as far back as more than a year ago.
More targeted at artistes, the suppliers of content for the broadcaster, the payment of outstanding arrears is meant to patch up relations that had all but crumbled between ZBC and the creative sector.
