The Sunday Mail
Prince Mushawevato —
GOVERNMENT has resumed releasing funds for the digitisation project, signalling a possible completion of the overall analogue-to-digital transition by end of next year. Early November, Government released US$8 million to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, putting to rest months of uncertainty over the project.
The digitisation programme is carried out through State arms BAZ and Transmedia Corporation. But the programme had somewhat stalled owing to lack of funding resulting in BAZ arrears to creditors swelling to approximately US$22 million. However, information privy to The Sunday Mail Leisure shows Government has pledged to consistently fund the project so that it is concluded in 2017.
Accordingly, the Finance Ministry has come up with a capital injection plan that will see BAZ periodically receiving agreed amounts. Handlers of the digitisation project were expected again to have received close to US$8 million last week.
BAZ chief executive Obert Muganyuri said, “Our mood has been boosted. We had got to a point where the project was seriously stalling, in the process threatening our set targets. The US$8 million we got recently and the other funds expected this week (last week) will help us move to another stage of the programme.
“The coming in of funds has guaranteed the resumption of work on the ground and also the shipment of equipment from Germany, France and China has begun. It is encouraging to note that Government has now decided to make sure the project is completed sooner rather than later.”
The funding will be channeled towards construction of three new transmitter towers and foundation works at seven other new sites. The money will also be used to repair operating towers and purchasing of set-top boxes so that completed areas start to benefit from digital services.
A set-top box is similar to satellite decoder and is a requirement to access a digital signal at a fee. The entire digitisation project is expected to gobble at least US$142 million according to initial projections. However, Muganyuri said the figure could slightly increase due to incalculable costs like storage fees and interests on debts.
“Various pieces of equipment are manufactured and shipped on condition of payment thus timely disbursements will help us not only to complete the project on time but also to avoid incurring extra costs in storage fees,” he explained.
Experts say BAZ needs an average of US$10 million monthly to meet its 2017 target.
“I cannot tell you exactly when the project will be completed since a number of factors have to be considered in this regard. But what I can say is with adequate funding, we will be done with the project like yesterday since we have a skilled and enthusiastic workforce,” said the BAZ chief executive.
He added: “We are thankful to Parliamentarians, the Permanent Secretary (for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba) and ministers that went for tours of our sites. I’m sure it was after these visits that they began to fully appreciate the importance of digitisation.”
As part of the overall project, a new satellite dish – only smaller to the one at Mazowe Satellite Station – for signal distribution has already been set up at Pockets Hill in Harare.
Also, a head-end, which is a master facility for receiving television signals for processing and distribution, has been installed, among other developments. Digital migration will facilitate better audio-visual reception and allows broadcasters to increase the number of channels available.
But the multi-million dollar investment could count for nothing if ZBC fails to get solid content that will grab viewers’ interest. Completion of the digitisation project will result in ZBC owning six channels: four at Pockets Hill and two at Montrose Studios, Bulawayo. However, the national broadcaster is struggling to provide satisfying content on its sole existing channel, ZTV.
ZBC acting chief executive Patrick Mavhura is adamant the phoenix was rising.
“ZBC has, in the background, been working hard to generate content through various ways. The first stage for us has been to identify the kind of content, which Zimbabweans want to see through an audience survey done for the national broadcaster by a reputable research institute,” said Mavhura.
“Zimbabweans love to watch local content in all its various forms. However, local drama, sports and football specifically are some of the genres that stand out according to the research.”
Mavhura said the six additional channels would enable ZBC to cater for varying tastes in sports, current affairs, tourism, drama, movies, cartoons and music. He did concede that this would be no stroll in the park. “The next step has been to focus on the switch-on-date, which is the date, where most if not all of the six channels are switched on. A season is made up of three months.
“This means generating enough broadcasting hours for three months of each of the six channels and this is no simple assignment,” he said.
“Over 700 concepts were received from independent producers. Two hundred and twenty-seven of the concepts were rated and approved and it is from this list that we have been engaging independent producers for fresh programmes.”
ZBC is running its October-December schedule on 89 percent local content. Some of the programmes that have proved popular in the season running up to Christmas are “Wenera”, “Tiriparwendo”, a new drama “Muzita Rababa”, “Muchaneta”, “Tshayngoma”, “Hoza Friday”, “Guluva” and “Sins of the Father”.
Scarcity of funds has, however, also affected the national broadcaster in its quest to bring delight to viewers.
