VP challenges broadcasters

Malawi Vice-President Khumbo Kachali has challenged broadcasters to produce adequate and high quality programmes for their audiences.

Speaking in Lilongwe when he presided over the official switch-on of digital terrestrial television, Kachali said digital migration will transform viewing experience to a new level.

“Without high quality and local programming, our viewers will not appreciate value and quality of digital broadcasting, [thereby making] the migration meaningless,” he said.

Kachali added: “The success of the digital television will heavily depend on the quality of the programming by the broadcasters. The current analogue system requires that broadcasters produce and transmit more local content, but most of them have failed to meet that requirement. The digital broadcasting era will place a greater demand on broadcasters to produce even more and high quality local content.”

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) chairperson Martha Kwataine described the launch as a milestone.

“This will extend the signal coverage to areas within the country that were not previously covered so that more people can share same programmes,” she said.