NBC: Industry should help pay

The minister of information and communication technology, Stanley Simataa, wants industry giants to foot the bill for the technology needs of the NBC.Speaking at the opening of National ICT Summit on Monday, Simataa, who spoke on behalf of vice president Nangolo Mbumba, suggested that private-public partnerships (PPPs) could provide a solution for the NBC’s financial predicament.“If your circumstances permit, do you not think that it would be a good idea and possible for us, colleagues, to put resources together so that we can acquire relevant technologies in this digital space in the form of public-private partnerships? I am sure we can,” he said.NBC board chairperson, Sven Thieme, announced early in September the implementation of austerity measures which include a reduction in broadcasting hours to 07:00 to 21:00, the frequency of English television news bulletins to only run once per day at 20:00 and no live broadcasts, including National Assembly and National Council sessions, unless paid for.‘Dangerous’ Simataa added that the NBC’s dire financial situation could lead to life-threatening scenarios. Over the weekend he saw cameramen on self-built unsteady stages recording political events from a high angle.“If we can and if you feel you want to assist this crusade of us to drive the digital agenda, can you assist your public broadcaster so that we get the technology so that they have no need to struggle?” Simataa asked.In April, Simataa described the national broadcaster’s budget allocation as “grossly inadequate” in the National Assembly, saying it would halt NBC from carrying out its mandate.“This amount is only adequate to allow the corporation to conduct its operation between now and maybe the middle of the year, beyond that we will be looking into the heavens,” Simataa then emphasised.NBC’s annual subsidy from government has dropped from N$237 million in the 2014/15 financial year to N$140 million in the 2019/20 financial year. - Nampa

NBC: Industry should help pay

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