(MISA/IFEX) – The privately-owned broadcasting station Joy Television (Joy TV) closed down on 31 May 2002. The closure means that Zimbabwe’s experiment with diversifying broadcasting has failed. Joy TV closed down after its lease agreement with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) was cancelled on the grounds that the agreement violated the 2001 Broadcasting Services Act. […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The privately-owned broadcasting station Joy Television (Joy TV) closed down on 31 May 2002. The closure means that Zimbabwe’s experiment with diversifying broadcasting has failed.
Joy TV closed down after its lease agreement with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) was cancelled on the grounds that the agreement violated the 2001 Broadcasting Services Act. Joy TV was leasing TV2, a second station owned by ZBC.
Joy TV’s closure means that the state-controlled ZBC is now the sole broadcaster. Although the 2001 act purportedly regulates the entry of other players into the industry, no private station has yet been licensed to date. The ZBC maintains its monopoly.
Joy TV’s short life was plagued by numerous challenges, including direct interference from the government. For example, the station was ordered to drop the BBC news bulletin from its daily broadcast. Joy TV was also restricted from airing local news with the exception of musicals and apolitical documentaries. The ZBC’s control of Joy TV is largely responsible for the station’s inability to survive.
Joy TV’s closure means that there is an increased need for new players to enter the broadcasting industry. The government has largely ignored calls to amend the act, which virtually makes it impossible for private players to enter the industry. No foreign investment is allowed into the industry and potential broadcasters are required to adhere to strict content guidelines.
BACKGROUND
The acting chief executive officer of the ZBC, Jennifer Tanyanyiwa, said in a statement on 22 April that the act prohibits the corporation from leasing out its second channel. The ZBC began leasing TV2 to Joy TV in July 1997. Joy TV, owned by Flame Lily Broadcasting Limited, was permitted to broadcast daily from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (local time).
MISA reported on 2 May that Joy TV was seeking to extend its lease. Joy TV hoped that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) and ZBC management would recognise that a large investment had been made. The application also pointed out that Joy TV signed contracts with advertisers until the end of 2002 and that it had loyal viewers and workers who had to be considered.
“The Daily News” has since alleged that the ZBC’s announcement to shut down Joy TV coincides with reports that the new government-owned Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency (Ziana)
is set to operate a 24-hour television channel on TV2.
