From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:ZIMBABWE: INDEPENDENT STATION THREAT TO STATE'S AIRWAVE MONOPOLY
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 13:58:09 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: ZIMBABWE: INDEPENDENT STATION THREAT TO STATE'S AIRWAVE MONOPOLY


an inter press service feature

by gumisai mutume

harare, dec 17 -- the wind of liberalisation sweeping away
parastatal bodies in zimbabwe is forcing the government to
rethink its long established monopoly over broadcasting.

the shape of things to come is cosmos television (ctv), a new
station billed to start broadcasting early next year. it is the
product of ambitious black entrepreneurs (known here as
indigenous businesspersons).

''we have struck a deal with leading television networks
abroad like cable news network (cnn), eurosport and music
television (mtv), which we hope to take into zimbabwean
homes'', says chemist siziba, the man at the forefront of the
change that could revolutionise zimbabwean broadcasting.

but the 2.4 million u.s. dollar station, still to be okayed
by government, has been rebuked by some as another agent of
western values and culture, set to further alienate people from
their heritage.

''we cannot deny western culture'', counters siziba. ''the
world today is a global village and the airwaves are open to
everybody''.

the broadcasting act of 1973 -- unchanged since independence
in 1980 -- has over the years given the government-controlled
zimbabwe broadcasting corporation (zbc) the franchise as the
sole broadcaster in the country.

the government is reviewing the act and is expected to
make the relevant amendments to allow the operations of ctv.

zbc -- long accused of stale programming -- has responded by
making frantic efforts to be cost-effective, streamlining its
workforce and livening up its image.

''definitely you are going to see a change in zbc
television'', says acting director general, onias gumbo,
reacting to criticism by viewers of the station's complacency
due to lack of competition.

zbc, as with other parastatals is expected by 1995 to be
self-financing. already it has transformed a loss in 1991 of
400,000 dollars into a profit this financial year of 600,000
dollars -- the first time in a number of years. (more/ips)


zimbabwe: independent (2)

gumbo says the rival station poses no threat. ''as the
national station we are only worried by how responsible the new
station will be. we want what will be in the interests of the
nation, responsible media''.

it is the political implications of independent broadcasting
reaching into the homes of zimbabweans that may well be at the
heart of whether the government, sensitive to criticism, decides
to give ctv the go-ahead.

unlike its independent newspaper counterparts, ctv will
not provide an alternative voice in local news production --
prefering not to have a news team unit -- and will depend on
cnn.

after a diet of zbc's bland and self-censored newscasts,
this is the main area that needs redress by an alternative
television station, critics say.

but ctv feels otherwise and says what is lacking in
zimbabwean broadcasting is entertainment.

on the current official concern over satellite television
and pornography on the airwaves, siziba says ctv's programmes
will be subjected to censorship in their countries of origin
although ''objectionable material will be removed by us when
necessary''.

''we will be broadcasting out of an inexpensive rudimentary
structure but the presentation will be perfect. that's
technology. my studios will be in london and atlanta'', he says.

however the station will demand 100 u.s. dollars a year from
its viewers as compared to zbc's 30 u.s. dollars. ''a bit of
competition is always welcome,' says leading television critic,
keith simpson. ''but at that price, it will only benefit a small
group''.

out of just over one million television sets in the country,
siziba says he is initially targeting 100,000 for his system.

simpson does not see much of a change in programming in what
ctv is promising: ''if the main source is western television
then all we are going to get is more of the same''.

on an average day, zbc screens eight shows of western origin
and only two local productions, a situation that has still not
been rectified 12 years after independence.

siziba says in the long run ctv aims to take advantage of
this and promote local productions. the 24-hours-a-day station
will eventually set aside five hours each day to local shows.

cosmos is following a trend gathering pace in africa towards
satellite television and consumption of slick and glossy western
programming. but as siziba points out, if that is what the
public wants, that is what he intends to give them.
(end/ips/gm/oa/92)
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