By TZN Correspondent
HARARE — The struggling Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) will soon replace the controversial viewers’ and listeners’ licences fees with a subscription model that will cost viewers more,Information, Media and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Mr George Charamba has revealed.
The development would mean that only those interested in the broadcaster’s programming pay for the services compared to the current arrangement whereby people pay for possession of a radio or television signal receiving device.
The requirement for ZBC to collect licence fees is also expected to be scrapped.
“The system we are introducing in this country is called Conditional Access System. Think of your DStv, your MultiChoice. If you don’t pay, you don’t view”, said Charamba
Television viewers will pay between $3 and $5 access fee per month to watch programmes broadcast on channels that will be on the digital platform once digital migration is completed.
This subscription will only enable them to watch programmes on one full spectrum programme channel.
However, subscription fees for specific bouquets are yet to be set.
If implemented, this will end Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s right to licence fees since all the access fees would be paid through Transmedia.
This came up during the launch of the content production phase of the Zimbabwe digitisation programme in Harare on Tuesday.
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Mr George Charamba said this was expected to build the broadcasting industry as television channels would access money from subscriptions from the Transmedia.
“Technically, it will no longer be possible for any broadcaster to pay as and when they want,” said Mr Charamba.
Harare lawyer and opposition MDC–T MP Jessie Majome in 2014 approached the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) seeking to force the State broadcaster to encrypt its signal so that it is only received by those who wish to associate with its programmes.
The matter is still pending at the ConCourt.
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