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NBC plans to move towards PSB

Posted on 15th June 2011
Elizabeth Smith, Chair, Commonwealth Media Group and Consultant, Transforming Broadcasting

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, under its new DG Albertus Aochamub, is pressing ahead with plans for a new kind of Public Service Broadcasting to suit the digital age.

In my visit there from 5-11 June, I found they were hopeful that they will soon be able to launch a second and digital channel. They have already been allocated 5 digital channels and this would be the first to launch. It would be focused on entertainment, but with public service values, and financed by advertising. It is hoped that the income from this would go a long way towards the NBC ambition of trebling their non-state income by 2015, and so end their chronic shortage of funds in recent years.

In due course, the plan is to launch a Parliamentary Channel, to cover the proceedings when Parliament is sitting, and then after that two further channels, advertising-supported but with public service values.

There are obstacles before a full transition from State to Public Service Broadcasting can be achieved. They need a new Broadcasting Act, revised Guidelines and various constitutional measures. But there is a hopeful atmosphere and much effort is being put into achieving the transformation, so this is an organisation to watch with interest.



Blog archive

The Media and the Need for Commonwealth reform - 26th March 2011

A Road Map for Transforming Egypt’s State Broadcasting into Public Service Broadcasting - 4th April 2011

Ivory Coast to move towards Public Service Broadcasting - 24th April 2011

Climate Change and the Media: Tell it as a story - 18th May 2011

Media Regulation: Broadcasters and Social Media - 1st June 2011

NBC plans to move towards PSB - 15th June 2011

Lesotho Broadcasters adopt Guidelines for Election Coverage - 25th July 2011

The Bhutan Broadcasting Service - on the road to PSB - 27th October 2011

Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation - 8th December 2011

WSIS helps the internet's contribution to media freedom - 15th May 2012

The role of PSB in supporting Social Media - 8th December 2012

A Call for Action on PSB in Africa - 24th January 2014

Public Service Broadcasting and Development - 3rd March 2014

The Project for International Capacity Development for South Sudan TV and Radio - 19th June 2014

Moving towards Public Service Broadcasting - Progress in South Sudan - 6th October 2014

South Sudan starts setting up its Public Broadcasting Corporation - 22nd November 2014

Hopes dim for Public Service Broadcasting in South Sudan - 10th March 2015

Prospects Brighter for the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation - 12th March 2016

Progress in South Sudan Broadcasting - 10th July 2016

Action to help South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation move towards Public Service Broadcasting - 18th February 2018

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