Btv stays put on DSTV and Philibao

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

Hence the station managers could not say whether their channel would be available on the popular Chinese decoders during the World Cup, which begins today in South Africa.

The decoders have become the number one choice in many homes in Botswana thanks to their affordability. They offer over 100 free-to-air channels, among them popular South African channels such as SABC 1, 2, 3, and Btv. There have been fears that Btv and SABC will block their signals to the decoders during the World Cup. This is meant to block free World Cup viewing in geographical areas where the channels are not allowed to broadcast. Recently, Btv management announced they will switch off their satellite broadcast and go terrestrial so that the channel can only be viewed by people using aerials.

However it appears this has not happened and Chinese decoders will broadcast the World Cup through Btv and SABC channels. By yesterday, Btv was still available on the free-to-air decoders. The director of broadcasting, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo refused to entertain any questions on the Chinese decoders saying they have no control over them.

However, an agreement between Btv and Multichoice yesterday will maintain the Btv channel on DSTV decoders throughout the World Cup period. Initially Btv had wanted to broadcast on terrestrial and switch off its satellite signal so that its channel does not appear on DSTV. The move became necessary after the world soccer governing body, FIFA restricted Btv's broadcast of the World Cup to within its territory - Botswana.

However fruitful discussions and negotiations between Btv and Multichoice Africa, the Btv channel will be encrypted so that it can be watched only in Botswana during the World Cup. Kaboeamodimo said the Btv management feared that not all Btv viewers in Botswana will access the channel using aerials. This is because the channel's reception via aerials is still limited only to certain parts of the country.