SIGNAL RECEIVING EQUIPMENT ONLY EXPENSE IN DIGITAL MIGRATION
11/05/15
The only expense that Batswana will incur as a result of digital migration is purchase of the signal receiving equipment, deputy permanent secretary responsible for information and broadcasting services departments in the Ministry for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo has said.
The only expense that Batswana will incur as a result of digital migration is purchase of the signal receiving equipment, deputy permanent secretary responsible for information and broadcasting services departments in the Ministry for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo has said. Responding to concerns from participants at a seminar in Francistown recently, Mr Kaboeamodimo said Botswana Television (Btv) was a free to air service, therefore viewers will not be expected to subscribe to access it. He explained that in countries where viewers were expected to pay for television licenses, they did so because of a legislation that required people to subscribe. Mr Kaboeamodimo said for digital migration readiness, viewers would be guided on what to buy in terms of compliance, such as a new integrated TV set or a digital set-top box and a digital ready TV aerial. He explained that since the digital migration project was national, relevant stakeholders would come up with a policy to ensure safer disposal of the e-waste after the switch-off date because eventually old TV sets would have to be handed in for disposal. He explained that while the digital switchover was next month, the switch-off date had not been finalised. A Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) official, Mr Itumeleng Batsalelwang said digital migration allowed for more creativity in the motion graphic creation and film making production. He said with the digital migration, viewers would enjoy varied line-up of new programming, adding that it also allowed mobility of television from different receiving gadgets and pictures would be clearer. Mr Batsalelwang urged viewers to guard themselves against being taken advantage of by retailers who will persuade them into buying equipment that is not approved by BOCRA. In her welcome remarks, Francistown Mayor Ms Sylvia Muzila said the digital migration was a commendable development as the country was changing to latest technology in order to be competitive globally.
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Saved on Monday, May 11, 2015 at 5:28 PM