Zimbabwe proposes sports channel content guidelines

retro tv set placed on stone surface — Photo by Anete Lusina on Pexels.com

A new Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill has been considered and adopted by the Zimbabwe government.

It will align the Broadcasting Services Act [12:06] with the constitution and the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. It also seeks to industrialise the sector.

So what are the main highlight is that:

The Bill will also provide a new provision which will prohibit the Zimbabwe National Road Authority and every motor insurance cover to sell a motor vehicle licence and motor insurance policy respectively to individuals without the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation current radio licence or an exemption certificate from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, unless the vehicle to be insured is not equipped with a radio signal receiver.

An interesting section also says

The Bill mandates the national broadcaster to broadcast 75 percent in local content.

And another part says

Furthermore, the Bill will provide for a licensee with a sports channel to broadcast 50 percent local sports content in view of the fact that sporting events are universal and international sports may bring commercial value to licensees.

Of course they will now need to go to parliament and the people before anything else happens.

The above was confirmed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere at a Post-Cabinet press briefing on Tuesday.