Digital migration (Set box) not appealing
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 31, 2023 06:00
Their concern is that the Set box seems not to be appealing to Batswana at large.
The committee wanted to know whether the Ministry had conducted a survey on the process which could indicate whether Batswana have bought the set box or not.
The members wanted to know why the department had opted to use Japanese technology when there was European one.
“Where did you benchmark? Apart from Botswana where else is this technology being used? Is the government getting value for money? How come we do not have statistics of people who had bought the set box,” Mangwegape Healy questioned.
Following exchanges, Broadcasting Services Director, Raymond Tsheko was then requested to assist Permanent Secretary for State President Goitsemang Morekisi who was struggling to answer some of the questions.
“We are yet to conduct a survey to check if Batswana are buying the set box or not. The reason why we opted for that set box is because it’s cheaper than the monthly subscription fee for Multichoice. If one buys a set a box, he or she is not going to be paying anything every month. We had benchmarked from Japanese and European countries but we chose this model of technology because it is friendly to use,” Tsheko said.
The PAC chairperson Wynter Mmolotsi wanted to know if set boxes cater for people outside Botswana and if so, do people buy them to watch BTV.
Responding to Mmolotsi’s question, Tsheko revealed that the set top box caters for Batswana only and cannot be accessed outside the country.
“I don’t understand why we had to invest a lot of money on something that is meant for Batswana only. I had thought the reason why we are moving to digital was to be able to market our country outside. Do other SADC countries use this technology? Honestly, I don’t understand why we had to invest in this. Any feedback from those who are selling it,” Mmolotsi questioned.
Responding to Mmolotsi’s questions, Tsheko said some shops which are selling the set box have not complained to them that there are not being bought.
He said the main aim of the set box was to make BTV accessible to Batswana.
He said some countries in SADC are still lacking behind in migrating from analogue to digital.
Tsheko said as things stand, the viewers for BTV have not gone down.
The broadcasting director said the contractor who was doing the project had been paid fully after completing the project.
However, committee members requested the Ministry to undertake education campaigns in different villages for Batswana to be able to buy the set box.
MP for Thamaga/Kumakwane, Palelo Motaosane said the campaigns could be done even through kgotla meetings so that government could get value from the money invested as people could buy the gadgets.
“Campaigns could help the government to yield fruits. It is true lot of work needs to be done because Batswana are not aware of the set box. I hope it is appealing. Like other committee members, I do not think this Japanese technology is the best,” Motaosane said.