adminAuxilia Katongomara Entertainment Correspondent
ZIMBABWE Broadcasting Holdings will soon be showing up-to-date South African soapies Generations, Muvhango and Isidingo.
This move is likely to bring relief to millions of television viewers in the country who were affected by the encryption of signals by Sentech. This made it impossible for locals to view the programmes.
Millions of Zimbabweans who used to access SABC 1, 2 and 3 free of charge through decoders like Wiztech, Philibao, Fortec Star and Vivid were left watching blank screens that carried the message that the channels had been scrambled, last Monday when the channels went off air.
South African signal carrier Sentech on Tuesday proposed a content deal that could see local viewers watching South African and some of Zimbabwe’s popular films locally.
In an interview, ZBH public relations officer Sivukile Simango said they had reached a consensus with Sentech.
He revealed that deal would see them buying soapies such as Generations, Muvhango, Isidingo, Khumbal’ Ekhaya, Zone 14 and some gospel programmes being broadcast on ZBC.
Under the proposal, SABC will create a regional channel which will offer SABC and ZBC programming.
The channel’s signal will be distributed by Sentech and can also be accessed throughout the Sadc region without use of a decoder.
Soon after the encryption of the channels most viewers rushed to buy DSTV decoders as they were trying to find a solution to their crisis.
derick.khumalo