Botswana TV may be dropped from satellite

Botswana Television (BTV) may be blocked from transmitting its signals allegedly for failure to pay rental arrears for use of satellite space. BTV is understood to owe about P25 million (US$ 3.6 million) accruing from use of the transponder by which the station beams its signal. Allegations that the station has not paid for its transponder arose early this year, amid fears by some staff members that the station’s signal may be blocked.

It is not clear if the national radio station, Radio Botswana uses the same transponder as BTV. The Department of Broadcasting Services runs both BTV and Radio Botswana. While he conceded that the Department was yet to pay the satellite provider, Broadcasting Services boss Mogomotsi Kaboyamodimo said the allegations were lies.

“This is unfortunate falsehood. We have just entered into a new 12 months contract with our satellite service provider and we shall be paying the agreed contractual service fees as per our agreed schedule of payments. We do not owe any money for this service,” he said.  Mr Kaboyamodimo would not say when “recent” is nor who the satellite service provider is or how much the department is paying for the service. In his response he said that, “details of the contract are privileged information between ourselves and our service provider and therefore I cannot provide any further details.”

Meanwhile reports suggest it is “things fall apart” at the station owing to much staff discontent and systems that just will not work. The station is reportedly not archiving programmes as it has run out of tapes normally used for that purpose.

While the station is reportedly grappling with the issue of the transponder and the problem with archiving, it also finds itself beset with problems over encryption. The station is not encrypted and this has allegedly placed it at loggerheads with programme suppliers. Due to the fact that it is not encrypted BTV can be viewed by people across Africa, from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt.

This has allegedly angered some of the suppliers who have since asked BTV to stop airing their repeat programmes. This has allegedly resulted in the station repeating programmes produced by the station years ago. The station is reportedly finding itself with no content to air especially after the 9 pm news, and has resorted to immediately airing freely accessible France 24 or some football repeat programmes.

“… However I will tell you that the issue of encryption of the BTV signal on satellite is a matter between BTV and relevant stakeholders…,” Mr Kaboyamodimo said, adding his department was interested in ensuring that the BTV signal is accessible to the nation and that the station was currently extending and upgrading its terrestrial transmission.

(Source: Mmegi/The Reporter)