News / National
MultiChoice warns Zimbabweans over illegal DStv viewing
11 Mar 2014 at 15:50hrs | Views
Pay-TV provider MultiChoice has issued "warnings" to Zimbabweans who illegally buy South African DStv packages to watch channels not available in Zimbabwe.
Television channels such as the South African public broadcaster's SABC 1, 2 and 3 are not available on Zimbabwean DStv packages.
South African signal provider Sentech was also forced by an eBotswana court order last year to scramble analogue SABC signals over-reaching into countries such as Botswana and Zimbabwe. As a result, an estimated three million Zimbabweans lost access to SABC on free-to-air decoders, according to the Mail & Guardian.
But even after Sentech scrambled the signal, Bulawayo-based technology analyst Robert Ndlovu has told ITWeb Africa that there are Zimbabweans buying DStv South Africa smart-cards or discs, from dealers in Zimbabwe or from South Africa, and then slotting them into decoders in Zimbabwe to watch SABC shows such as soap opera "Generations".
Zimbabweans can then pay for the DStv South Africa package using VISA or MasterCard bank cards, according to online forums that describe how to illegally view SABC in Zimbabwe (see one forum example by clicking here).
"People don't want (local) DStv because it doesn't have SABC 1, 2 and 3, which most people like here," Ndlovu told ITWeb Africa.
"It's cheaper because it's being paid in rands. I mean these people this side (Zimbabwe) have got US dollars," Ndlovu told ITWeb Africa.
MultiChoice general manager for corporate affairs Caroline Creasy has responded to ITWeb Africa questions regarding this activity in Zimbabwe.
"MultiChoice is aware of this practice and has issued several warnings to the public that this is illegal," Creasy told ITWeb Africa.
Creasy further told ITWeb Africa that it is "impossible to measure" the extent of this problem in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is a member of the International Convention and Treaties on Copyright and Related Rights, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
This means regulatory authorities in the country are obliged to clampdown on issues such as illegally watching SABC in Zimbabwe.
However, a November 2013 report from Zimbabwe's Southern Eye quoted a Zimbabwe MultiChoice official as saying the company has its hands tied in terms of what it can do because only Zimbabwean regulatory authorities are placed to implement the likes of copyright penalties.
MultiChoice; though, is adamant of its disapproval of Zimbabweans illegally buying DStv South Africa subscriptions to watch these packages' channels in Zimbabwe.
"MultiChoice Zimbabwe is not able to provide services to subscribers not registered in Zimbabwe," Creasy told ITWeb Africa.
In the meantime, MultiChoice South Africa is planning to hike DStv prices on 1 April.
In South Africa, prices are set to increase by above 6%. MultiChoice cites rising costs among reasons for the price hike.
Television channels such as the South African public broadcaster's SABC 1, 2 and 3 are not available on Zimbabwean DStv packages.
South African signal provider Sentech was also forced by an eBotswana court order last year to scramble analogue SABC signals over-reaching into countries such as Botswana and Zimbabwe. As a result, an estimated three million Zimbabweans lost access to SABC on free-to-air decoders, according to the Mail & Guardian.
But even after Sentech scrambled the signal, Bulawayo-based technology analyst Robert Ndlovu has told ITWeb Africa that there are Zimbabweans buying DStv South Africa smart-cards or discs, from dealers in Zimbabwe or from South Africa, and then slotting them into decoders in Zimbabwe to watch SABC shows such as soap opera "Generations".
Zimbabweans can then pay for the DStv South Africa package using VISA or MasterCard bank cards, according to online forums that describe how to illegally view SABC in Zimbabwe (see one forum example by clicking here).
"People don't want (local) DStv because it doesn't have SABC 1, 2 and 3, which most people like here," Ndlovu told ITWeb Africa.
"It's cheaper because it's being paid in rands. I mean these people this side (Zimbabwe) have got US dollars," Ndlovu told ITWeb Africa.
MultiChoice general manager for corporate affairs Caroline Creasy has responded to ITWeb Africa questions regarding this activity in Zimbabwe.
"MultiChoice is aware of this practice and has issued several warnings to the public that this is illegal," Creasy told ITWeb Africa.
Creasy further told ITWeb Africa that it is "impossible to measure" the extent of this problem in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is a member of the International Convention and Treaties on Copyright and Related Rights, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
This means regulatory authorities in the country are obliged to clampdown on issues such as illegally watching SABC in Zimbabwe.
However, a November 2013 report from Zimbabwe's Southern Eye quoted a Zimbabwe MultiChoice official as saying the company has its hands tied in terms of what it can do because only Zimbabwean regulatory authorities are placed to implement the likes of copyright penalties.
MultiChoice; though, is adamant of its disapproval of Zimbabweans illegally buying DStv South Africa subscriptions to watch these packages' channels in Zimbabwe.
"MultiChoice Zimbabwe is not able to provide services to subscribers not registered in Zimbabwe," Creasy told ITWeb Africa.
In the meantime, MultiChoice South Africa is planning to hike DStv prices on 1 April.
In South Africa, prices are set to increase by above 6%. MultiChoice cites rising costs among reasons for the price hike.
Source - ITWeb
