adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
ZBCtv left millions of Zimbabweans angry as they connived to shoot themselves in the foot after they failed to screen the World Cup (WC) opening ceremony and match both on their DStv channel 280 and ZBC TV1 on Thursday night. ZBCtv had over the past weeks advertised that they would beam live all the 64 matches of the soccer showcase in Brazil.
Zimbabweans were waiting eagerly for the screening of the opening ceremony on ZBC, but alas that was not to be as instead, a message from Multichoice Africa greeted viewers telling them that ZBC had no rights to screen the World Cup.
The message read: “Due to Fifa contractual terms, WC 2014 games will not be available on this channel. For comprehensive sports coverage, go to Super Sport or SS Select channels”.
Thereafter, as the time for kick off drew closer, viewers had to painfully watch the message on the screen from 7.30PM.
News at 8 was moved to an hour earlier to cater for the official opening. After showing a few minutes of the opening ceremony, MultiChoice cut off the ZBCtv feed and the screen beamed the dreaded message.
The ZBCtv Facebook page was awash with angry comments from fans who questioned why they did not screen the matches live.
Some of the comments read: “You are not allowed to screen the world cup you are an embarrassment.”
“So you guys knew all along that you would not screen the game but you kept advertising. Is that really fair? It’s better you put Chimurenga songs because we cannot continue staring at that disheartening message”.
“Ztv why betray your viewers! Why are you not screening the match as you promised?”
Efforts to get a comment from ZBC corporate communications manager Farai Bandama were fruitless as he had not responded to questions by the time of going to print.
However, a message from ZBC sport Twitted on the Dembare Dotcoms Facebook page explained that those who were not on the DStv platform could watch the games on normal ZBCtv aerial.
The message read: “ZBC would like to apologise to our valued viewers who are receiving our ZBC TV signal on the DSTV platform for interruption of transmission since the beginning of the Fifa World Cup Brazil 2014.
“ZBC has received correspondence from Multichoice Zimbabwe to the effect that MultiChoice Africa Limited has been notified by the world football governing board Fifa to effect a blanket ban on all free to air channels who are broadcasting the games.
“Please note that ZBC has acquired the rights to the tournament and is broadcasting all the 64 matches. ZBC TV is accessible through terrestrial TV where viewers need a normal aerial and not a satellite dish to receive the ZBC TV signal.
“Any inconvenience is sincerely regretted.”
However, Bandama said it was not true that ZBC failed to screen the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
“The reality is that the opening ceremony, together with the opening match was screened. However, signal has to be carried to the viewers via a network of transmitters.
“Due to challenges in that area, the signal could not be carried beyond the boundaries of Harare and efforts are being made around the clock by both ourselves and the signal carrier to avail the showpiece to viewers.”
He added that ZBC had acquired the rights to screen the World Cup and all matches would be screened live.
Yesterday’s games were however, screened live on ZBCtv
Online Reporter