Botswana Television to go off air

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 19, 2010 --

Botswana government is being pressured to shut off Botswana Television (BTV) in response to FIFA’s request that the channel must stop the spillover of its programs in several South African countries in order to be considered for gaining the rights to air the world cup games due in South Africa in June 2010. A source in the government confirmed that Multichoice has been instructed to shut the BTV channel off their satellite dish but the broadcaster’s CEO, Billy Sekgororwane, played down the issue: “Look, I am sorry I can’t help much on the issue, in fact, I d rather you direct the question to the management of the station and they should be better placed to comment as it concerns them”, he said.

The first phase of the shut down is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday next week and if it is carried out as planned; BTV would only be accessed through aerials and Philabaos. In addition, the channel may also encrypt its signals so that it requires a decoder to access.

Currently, BTV is accessible in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique as well as in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and parts of Zambia.

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