Botswana National Broadcasting Board Explained

Agency Name:	Botswana National Broadcasting Board
Formed:	2000
Jurisdiction:	Government of Botswana
Headquarters:	Gaborone
Minister1 Name:	Hon. Mrs. P. Venson-Moitoi
Chief1 Name:	Dr. M. Mpotokwane
Chief1 Position:	Chairman
Parent Agency:	Botswana Telecommunications Authority
Website:	NBB Website

The Botswana National Broadcasting Board (NBB) was set up by the Broadcasting Act, 1998 (No. 6 of 1999).^[1] The Board consists of eleven members who were appointed in August 2000.Section 10 of the Act, includes Board functions such as the issuing of broadcasting licences and the control and supervision of broadcasting activities, including the relaying of radio and television programmes from places in and out of Botswana to places in and outside Botswana.

Mandate

Roles (Summary)

• Act as general advisor to National Broadcasting Board (NBB)
• Act as a support link between Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) and NBB
• Recommend code of conduct
• Monitor global broadcast developments
• Broadcast representation nationally, regionally and internationally^[2]

Licensing

The NBB issues licences on the following types of broadcasting services in Botswana.

• Public broadcasting
• Private broadcasting and
• Community broadcasting

Highlights and Controversies

• 2007: National Broadcasting Board v Multichoice Botswana.^[3] The Board issued a broadcasting licence to Multichoice in 2005, and subsequently, in 2007, made an order setting aside the decision to issue the licence. The Court of Appeal decided that

the NBB had acted ultra vires its powers in licensing Multichoice Botswana as a broadcaster.

• 2008 - Digital Migration Strategy: The NBB highlighted the need for the development of the digital migration strategy to the Minister^[4] at a meeting in December 2007. The BTA is expected to play a significant role in this task^[5]

Botswana's ISDB-T

Features:

• Supports ISDB-T broadcast (1 segment).
• MPEG-2/ MPEG-4 AVC/ H.264 HD/ SD video.
• DiVX Compatible with 480i/ 480p/ 720p/ 1080i/ 1080p video formats. Auto and Manually scan all available TV and radio channels.
• Aspect ratio 16:9 and 4:3.
• 1000 channels memory.
• Parental control.
• Teletext/ Bit Map Subtitle.
• Compliant with ETS1.
• Supported 7 days EPG fiction.
• VBI Teletext support 6 MHz software setting auto/ manual program search.
• Multi language supported.

See also

• Botswana
• Internet in Botswana
• Botswana Internet Exchange
• Botswana Telecommunications Authority

External links

• Botswana Broadcasting Regulations
• Code of Conduct for Broadcasters during Elections
• Laws of Botswana

Notes and References

1. Web site: Archived copy . 2010-05-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121181342/http://www.bta.org.bw/pubs/Broadcasting%20act%20of%201998.pdf . 2008-11-21 .
2. Web site: Broadcasting Regulations - Departments - Botswana Telecommunications Authority . 2010-05-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080922033841/http://www.bta.org.bw/d_broadcasting.html . 2008-09-22 .
3. Web site: Chairman of the National Broadcasting Board v Multi Choice Botswana (Pty) Ltd (CACLB-023-07) [2007] BWCA 1 (26 July 2007).
4. Web site: :: Welcome to Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology :: . www.mcst.gov.bw . 6 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061129190654/http://www.mcst.gov.bw/ . 29 November 2006 . dead.
5. http://www.bta.org.bw/pubs/AnnualReport/Anual_Report_08.pdf{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}