Satellite Tv Proves a Hit
Zimbabwe Standard (Harare)
July 24, 2005
Posted to the web July 25, 2005
By John Mokwetsi
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200507250283.html
THE increasing popularity of Digital Satellite Television (DStv) in the
country's urban areas has given the impression that disgraced former
Minister of Information and Publicity, Jonathan Moyo-inspired 75% local
content is at odds with the wishes of most viewers and listeners.
Launched amid the political heat of 2002, the policy was always viewed with
suspicion, with detractors arguing the policy was brought about to bombard
viewers and listeners with nauseating propaganda.
Even highly entertaining international football, supposedly harmless
amusement, disappeared from ZTV1 - the only local television channel. Then,
Moyo claimed he was instilling a sense of "patriotism and belonging" to
wayward thinking urbanites.
Instead of the normal programming of "entertaining, informing and
educational programmes", chagrined listeners and viewers had to contend
with political jingles, propaganda dramas and speechifying ministers.
Although the coming in of a new information minister, Tichaona Jokonya, has
seen some irregular snippets of international programmes, there is still a
virtual blackout on news and sport, especially from the west.
It is due to this scenario that Multichoice, the owners of DSTV, have
benefited from an increase in the expansion of their subscriber base.
Kirsty Brien, the marketing and public relations manager of Multichoice
Zimbabwe, attributes this expansion to "exceptional home television
entertainment, and with over 50 channels of world-class channels ranging
from news, sport, movies, music, documentaries, education and cartoons,
there is something for everyone".
More and more subscribers are to be found in high-density areas such as
Highfield, Glen View, Mabvuku, Glen Norah and Kambuzuma.
Chamu Nyamukonda, the director of Chams Enterprises who sell satellite
decoders said: "I do not think it all boils down to the 75% policy. It has
all to do with the programming which is rather appalling. We only watch ZTV
for news.
"Business is indeed thriving and it is true that most of our installations
are being carried out in the high-density areas. I think it is because
people can no longer tolerate rubbish. The sooner some people realise that
soccer, international and local, is a major draw card the better. Ask
Multichoice; sports channels have helped their business grow."
Brien concurred: "Year-on-year, the subscriber base has grown and there are
also seasonal trends that also affect subscriptions, soccer tournaments are
particularly popular with seasonal subscribers."
This is despite the fact that subscription is steep with one having to part
with R342 for a full set of channels and about R200 for Dstv's half bouquet.
Last month police wreaked havoc on Bulawayo, visiting every DStv subscriber
in an operation purportedly meant to probe where subscribers were getting
their foreign currency to pay the subscriptions.
Multichoice says it will continue to invest in technology in order to offer
better home television services to subscribers across Africa.
For ZTV, not even the initiative to put the station on DStv's channel 104
has improved fortunes as advertisers and viewers alike have continued with
their apathy.
================================
George Antunes, Political Science Dept
University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204
Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927
antunes at uh dot edu
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