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Auxilia Katongomara-Entertainment Correspondent
PIRATE disc vendors in Bulawayo are reportedly cashing in on desperate soapie lovers who were affected by Sentec’s blackout on free to air decoders by offering DVDs of various South African programmes.
The most popular soapies selling like hot cakes are Generations, Muvhango and Isidingo.
While other music discs and DVDs are selling for $1, the soapie DVDs are going for $3, as they are made up of a five episode, known as the Omnibus.
Illegal vendors said they were in business as a result of the blackout by Sentech.“The soapies are selling fast such that we sometimes run out of stock,” said one vendor who preferred to be identified as Tinashe.
He said single episodes were also available but the Omnibus DVDs were the most popular.
Another vendor at Basch Street Terminus, popularly known as Egodini, said the DVDs ran out over the weekend.
“Fans of these soapies have found a reprieve from the DVDs as the majority cannot afford DSTV. We sold over 50 discs on Saturday,” said the vendor.
The DVDs are reportedly recorded by some viewers in South Africa and then brought to Zimbabwe.
Sentech encrypted the free to air channesl on 1 July and millions of television viewers in Africa were left stranded as they could not access the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s channels.
After the blackout, scores of television viewers rushed to Multichoice Zimbabwe offices to subscribe with the hope of getting SABC channels but to no avail.
Meanwhile, another pay per view television channel, Top TV has emerged and is offering SABC Channels which are not offered by DSTV.
The channel comes with a new decoder and subscription fees which range from R100-R280 a month and comprises seven bouquets.
Meanwhile, talks between ZBC and Sentech are yet to bear fruit.
ZBC has promised to buy Generations, Isidingo, Muvhango and gospel programmes from SABC.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo