NBC could have pay channels

STATE broadcaster, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) could in future have pay TV channels in addition to free to air channels.

The broadcaster is migrating to Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) and has started switching-off analogue.

“Things may change in the future. We may decide to have pay channels in additional to free to air channels,” said Ockert Jansen Commercial Manager: DTT in an interview yesterday.

On the issues of NBC channels on DSTV, Jansen said since DSTV was satellite-based, NBC will continue on the pay channel as it was not affected by the analogue switch off.

Namibia is one of the top countries in terms of DTT in Africa and has so far managed to migrate 16 of its 56 transmitters from analogue to DTT.

He said there are about 250 000 TV sets in Namibia although not all of them are licensed.

On Sunday, the NBC in collaboration with free-to-air stations, One Africa Television and TBN, successfully completed its campaign, ‘Analogue Switch Off’ for its first phase in Windhoek, Rehoboth and Okahandja.

Namibia is amongst the top four countries in SADC that have started with Analogue Switch Off. The NBC population coverage with a digital TV signal stands at 66,6% just shy of the target of 67% by 17 June.

After having postponed the switch off from December in order to give viewers a chance to get their affairs in order, the nbc went on a nationwide campaign to allow viewers to pay their television licences and purchase their NBC digital decoders before the set date.

“We remain committed to our viewers, and through the digital migration process we aim to bring better television quality and more viewing and listening choices to them. We further wish to thank the residents of Windhoek, Rehoboth and Okahandja for being responsive to our call on the analogue switch off, but also call on those still in the dark, to migrate to digital as soon as possible”, Jansen said.

For a once-off payment of N$199, the NBC Digital Decoders offer viewers seven television channels including NBC 1, NBC2, NBC 3,One Africa, TBN, EDU TV as well as the soon-to-be-launched Namibian music channel, THIS TV and 10 radio stations. The NBC runs radio broadcasting in ten Namibian languages and three public service TV channels.