Btv frustrates viewers

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Friday February 15, 2008 00:00

Some of them are BBC News, The Bold And The Beautiful, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Dr. Phil.

The television station ran into trouble when it was discovered some time last year that it owed millions of Pula in tax arrears, sources say.

After paying the taxman, Btv failed to purchase locally produced programmes that they had commissioned and as if that was not enough, they also discontinued some foreign programmes that were deemed expensive. 

This has negatively impacted production houses in Botswana and with the advent of Chinese products like Phillibao and pay TV, Btv's viewership is dwindling by the day.  Although the station recently tried to redeem themselves by televising the just ended AFCON games, their popularity keeps fading.

A random interview shows that whilst those interviewed differed on some issues, they all agreed that Btv is horrible.

Sylvia Pebe (33), of Maruapula: 'It's a complete torture to watch Btv. Although I can hardly afford it, I am seriously considering buying DStv. In the past, I could stay home and watch programmes like The Bold And The Beautiful and Dr. Phil but nowadays I do not know what to do, as there is nothing to watch on TV. These guys have killed home entertainment in Botswana. Do they want us to go out and expose ourselves to petty criminals at entertainment spots?'

Keamogetse Keadumele, Mogoditshane (Bokaa Ward): 'Those people are boring. Anyway what is it with the wheel that spins all day on the screen and radio on TV? Btv does not care about ordinary people like me. Their news is also boring because we are bombarded with Mogae every day. Why don't they introduce a programme that addresses issues affecting the nonentities of this society?  They should also introduce programmes with more local content.'

Gasegapele Magwaneng (20), of Village, Gaborone: 'I am happy that they did away with foreign soapies because they are too expensive to purchase.

What worries me is that the Btv people did not bring about any positive changes since getting rid of those programmes. They should buy 70percent locally produced programmes and 30percent foreign programmes. Their news is boring since they mainly cover events happening in Gaborone'.

Gakebarophe Alone (31) of Block 8: 'It's a good thing that they got rid of all those international programmes although they did that only recently.

Having said that I would say that I still find the station boring because they do not have enough programmes that focus on the lives of Batswana.

We need to see more Setswana dramas and traditional music on Btv. They should however keep cartoons because some children more-especially those who attend English medium schools find them educational'.

Motlhatlosi Kaboyamodimo (35) Maruapula: 'I think Btv is just okay. I have realised that it has remarkably improved since the time it started. I enjoy watching programmes like Mmantlwaneng, Sports Hive, Dikgang and Mokaragana. It is also good that they have screened AFCON. However, looking back I would say I terribly miss SABC channels because they had better programmes'.