New TV station threatens ZBC monopoly

A NEW television station BosTV has been launched on the free-to-air satellite signal and with barely two months of its broadcasting it has sent tongues wagging.

Officially launched on October 1, it is accessed via Wiztech and Philibao satellite decoders and is presently running promotional material with a view to turn it into pay-per-view television, putting it in direct competition with DStv, ZBC and other subscription-based networks.

BosTV is part of an international channel owned by local businesspeople Nyasha Muzavazi and Ephraim Chawoneke, chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively.

Chawoneke, the vice-chairperson of the BosTV board, told Southern Eye Lifestyle the new kid on the broadcasting block had been well-received locally and regionally. BosTV is derived from Blue Ocean Strategy, which Chawoneke said means "growing a big animal from nothing".

"BosTV is not a company, but a TV station which is an additional frequency to the My TV Africa bouquet," Chawoneke said.

"My TV Africa has been on air for a long time in other countries in Africa besides Zimbabwe. We were licensed last year, but launched locally in October."

He, however, said BosTV was not a free channel, adding that details on how to subscribe would be announced in due course.

"For now we are running promotional content. Better world-class programming will come soon," Chawoneke said.

"A lot of outside brands are being beamed into Zimbabwe to such an extent that we have been accustomed to the outside culture. We will be doing the opposite, promoting our own ways and local talent to the outside world."

He noted that international artistes have been coming to perform in the country successfully because they would have been promoted by outside television stations.

He said BosTV would strive to promote local talent "so that when our locals go to perform outside the country they won't flop and will be accepted because they would have well marketed."

The station has become the talk of town with local music videos and movies being beamed ' for instance a Chiredzi 78-minute movie titled Nakai.

"We thank our valued viewers and Zimbabwe at large for the support they have given. On our first day, BosTV Facebook page hit a total of 10 000. This means a lot and we have been receiving a lot of locally made music videos and movies," Chawoneke added.