Zimbabwe launches privately-owned TV station

After years of having only one state-run broadcast outlet in Zimbabwe, a newly launched TV station will broadcast independently produced content.

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The first privately-owned television station '1ST TV' has been launched to provide independent, free-to-air content via satellite ahead of crucial elections.

Local organisations in Zimbabwe say the role of voters in the upcoming election is meaningless.

Allegations of planned vote rigging have already surfaced.

Executive producer Andrew Chadwick says that 1ST TV is trying to provide the balance that Zimbabweans want.

"From 2003/2004 Zimbabweans themselves went out and purchased satellite dishes... the platform [for 1ST TV] was laid by Zimbabweans."

For three decades, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has dominated the media landscape.

Election seasons in the past on the state broadcaster has been characterised by uninterrupted and uncritical reporting of Mugabe's campaigns.

Chadwick says that 1ST TV is working hard to win a vote of confidence from its viewers.

"Zimbabweans will judge for themselves whether this is an independent station. And if it's not independent they're going to turn away," he says.




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Source: CNN

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