Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
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| Type | Television network Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability | National |
| Owner | Government of Zimbabwe |
Launch date | 1980 (succeeded ZRBC) |
Former names | Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation, and later Zimbabwe Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation |
Official website | http://www.zbc.co.zw |
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is the state-controlled broadcaster in Zimbabwe. It succeeded the Zimbabwe Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation (ZRBC) in 1980, which in turn had succeeded the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation (RBC) in 1979. Like the RBC under the white minority rule government of Ian Smith, it has been accused of being a mouthpiece of the Mugabe regime, with no editorial independence.
Radio
The ZBC operates four radio networks, providing a mix of news, current affairs, educational programming and music, in English, Shona and Ndebele.
Television
Television was introduced into the then Southern Rhodesia in 1960. It was the first such service in the region, as South Africa did not introduce television until 1976. RBC TV was a commercial service carrying advertising, although there was also a television licence fee. Television reception was confined mainly to the large cities, and most viewers were from the white minority. Possibly the best-known Director of the RBC was Dr. Harvey Ward.
Colour television was introduced in 1984, with a second channel, available only in Harare, being introduced in 1986. This channel was discontinued in 1997 and replaced by the first independent channel in Zimbabwe known as Joy TV. This channel lasted until 2002, when it was controversially taken off the air for allegedly failing to pay fees to ZBC. It is believed that Joy TV was killed off, because it posed a threat to the monopoly enjoyed by ZBC.
The main ZBC TV News bulletin opens with a man in traditional tribal costume beating a drum, before more people beat the drum.