Andrew
Online Reporter
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has urged television licence holders to abide by the 18-month deadline to go on air as stipulated by law or risk losing their licences.
Of the six television stations given licences, only two – Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) owned by Zimpapers and 3Ktv owned by Jester Media Services – are on air.
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe CEO Engineer Tendai Kapumha told The Sunday Mail Online that television stations should implement business plans they submitted to the regulator.
“These licences were issued at different times. Licensees as per the law have up to 18 months to go on air. Each licensee had a business plan which they should be working on to go on air and as a regulator, we expect them to go on air within 18 months of the issuance of their licence,” said Eng Kapumha.
Fairtalk Communications managing director responsible for television, Dr Qhubani Moyo, said the 18-month deadline ends in December.
“As we speak, we are doing configurations for connection with Transmedia. We are just testing our signal to see if our signal strength is sufficient; otherwise, we are ready. We are now waiting for Transmedia to give us a response on our signal and we will be able to beam into households,” Dr Moyo said.
Tich Mataz, a representative of NRTV, said he was out of the country and would share the update once he returns.
Channel Dzimbahwe proprietor Happison Muchechetere said “we are on course”, while Acacia TV’s Ms Sharon Mugabe did not respond to questions.
Online Reporter