FREE TO AIR NATIONAL COMMERCIAL TELEVISION BROADCASTING SERVICE LICENSING, 20 NOVEMBER 2020

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe wishes to advise members of the public of the process of licensing new Television Services ha been completed.

The Authority invited applications for the provision of Free-to-air National Commercial Television Broadcasting Service licences in February 2020 and received a total of fourteen (14) applications. The Authority processed the applications in terms of the requirements of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06] including conducting public inquiries to determine Applicant’s suitability to be issued with Broadcasting Service licences.

The Authority has completed the processing of the applications and the final adjudication thereof.

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe advises that the following six Applicants have been awarded Free-to-air National Commercial Television Broadcasting Services licences:

i. Jester Media (Pvt) Ltd trading as 3K TV;

ii. Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited trading as ZTN;

iii. Rusununguko Media (Psi) Ltd trading as NRTV;

iv. Acacia Media Group (Psi) Ltd trading as Kumba TV;

v. Fairtalk Communications (Psi) lid trading as Ke Yona TV; and

vi. Channel Dzianbahwe (Pvt) Ltd trading as Channel D.

The new licensees shall have eighteen (18) mouths to roll out their plans and go on air, in line with section 1117) of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06]. In the twist of failure to broadcast, the licences will be availed to other aspirants through a similar process. The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe would like to express appreciation to all those who showed interest and indeed the general public for actively participating in this historic process of facilitating the opening up of broadcasting airwaves for multiplicity in television services. Congratulations Zimbabwe for this milestone!

Charles Manzi Sibanda

Board Chairman

By Order of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe