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Namibian Broadcasting Corporation

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) (Afrikaans: Namibiese Uitsaai-Korporasie, NUK) is the public broadcaster of Namibia. It was established in 1979, under the name South West African Broadcasting Corporation (SWABC).

Namibian Broadcasting Corporation
TypePublic Broadcaster
BrandingNBC
Country
Namibia
AvailabilityNamibia
South Africa
FoundedMay 1979 (as the SWABC, adopted current name in March 1990)
OwnerGovernment of Namibia
Former names
South West African Broadcasting Corporation
Television
NBC 1, NBC 2 and NBC 3
Radio
  • Main Service (English)

Language Services:

  • Afrikaans
  • Khoekhoegowab
  • German
  • Oshiwambo
  • Otjiherero
  • RuKwangali
  • Setswana
  • siLozi
  • !Ha
Official website
www.nbc.na

History edit

Radio was originally broadcast in English and Afrikaans via shortwave from the South African Broadcasting Corporation's facilities in South Africa. The SABC established a local FM transmitter network in November 1969, relaying Radio South Africa, Radio Suid-Afrika, and Springbok Radio, and establishing a number of services in native languages, including Radio Ovambo, broadcasting in the Kwanyama and Ndonga languages, Radio Herero and Radio Damara Nama.[1] The introduction of Radio Kavango along the northeastern border with Angola followed in February 1976 in the Kwangali, Mbukushu and Gciriku languages.[2]

In 1965, the pro-independence movement, the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), began broadcasting a one-hour radio programme from Tanzania on short wave known as The Namibian Hour.[3] It later started broadcasting from Zambia.[4] In 1974, it was renamed Voice of Namibia.[5] By 1986, it was broadcasting from Angola, Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Zimbabwe, as well as from Tanzania and Zambia.[6]

From SABC to SWABC edit

 
SWABC logo 1979-1990

In May 1979 the SABC relinquished control of broadcasting services in the territory, and a new broadcaster was established in its place.[7] This was known as the South West African Broadcasting Corporation (SWABC), in Afrikaans as Suidwes-Afrikaanse Uitsaaikorporasie (SWAUK), came into being.[8] However, 70 per cent of the SWABC's technical personnel were on secondment from the SABC.[9] In addition, a number of its programmes were prepared at the SABC's studios in Johannesburg before being dispatched to Windhoek for transmission.[10]

Under the authority of the South African-appointed Administrator General, the SWABC operated nine "ethnic" radio stations in English, Afrikaans, German, Owambo, Herero, Lozi, Tswana and Damara/Nama, with the national service broadcast only in English and Afrikaans.[11] By March 1985, 85 per cent of the population had FM radio service over 31 transmitting stations.[12]

The SWABC's television service was introduced in October 1981, serving 50 per cent of the population,[13] via 11 transmitters.[12] This comprised a mix of programming in English, Afrikaans and German, 90 per cent of which came from or via the SABC.[14] Programmes were shown locally a week after South Africa.[15] The SWABC received SABC TV programming (which it recorded, edited and rebroadcast) first by using a microwave link, and later via an Intelsat satellite link.[16]

However, Walvis Bay, an enclave of South Africa in Namibia until 1994, received the SABC's TV1 on a low-power transmitter, which was broadcast live via Intelsat from 1986.[15]

Transition to independence edit

During the transition to independence in 1989, the SWABC was accused by the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) of bias in its news coverage, portraying the pro-independence SWAPO party as well as UNTAG in a negative light, while being uncritical of press releases from the Administrator General's office, the police force, and anti-SWAPO parties.[17] It was accused of particular bias towards the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, with disproportionate coverage given to its press conferences and rallies.[18]

In addition, in July 1989, the Administrator General was given three times as much airtime on SWABC TV as UNTAG.[19] However, while the SWABC had offered UNTAG five minutes of radio airtime daily and ten-minute television slot in May 1989, UNTAG was unable to produce adequate broadcasts and failed to benefit from its allotted airtime until late June.[20]

Post-independence edit

Following independence in 1990, the new government made the decision to make English the sole language on NBC television, while the existing English-language national radio service was made the main channel for news, sport, public affairs and other programmes.[21] Three months after independence, NBC television began broadcasting entirely in English, while broadcasting hours for radio services in other languages were reduced.[22]

Under the pre-independence agreements, most SWABC staff were able to keep their jobs at the new broadcaster, but they were joined by SWAPO journalists who had previously worked for the Voice of Namibia, leading to accusations of bias and favouritism from both sides.[23]

The NBC was also accused by opposition politicians of favouring SWAPO, with Nora Schimming-Chase, vice-president of the Congress of Democrats, calling it the "Nujoma Broadcasting Corporation", a reference to Namibia's then President, Sam Nujoma.[24] The DTA of Namibia, formerly the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, has also accused the NBC of giving coverage of political rallies that favour SWAPO at the expense of its rivals.[25]

On 6 July 1996, two NBC TV cameras were damaged beyond repair and one was stolen, after a jazz concert failed to appear at the scheduled time. Members of the crew were also injured. The damaged cameras cost N$1.5 million.[26]

From 2000, more local languages were added to NBC's television news, after consideration that more than 80% of its viewers did not understand English.[27] Shortly afterwards, it was announced that NBC would start television news in Afrikaans. The delays were due to budget constraints and that all content in the language was sponsored by private companies.[28]

The broadcaster announced an increase in licensing fees in October 2001, the increase was scheduled to be set at 13%.[29]

Services edit

Radio edit

The NBC operates one 24-hour radio station in English (NBC National Radio, renamed National FM in 2017) and nine so-called Language Services that broadcast between 10 and 15 hours per day in Oshiwambo (Ovambo and Kwanyama; established 1969), Damara/Nama (1969) renamed "Kaisamed FM", Otjiherero (1969), Rukavango (1975), Afrikaans (1979 Afrikaanse Radio Diens, renamed Hartklop FM in 2017), German (1979 Deutsches Hörfunkprogramm, renamed Funkhaus Namibia in 2017), Setswana (1981/98), Silozi (1986) and San (ǃHa Radio, 2003).[30]

The majority of radio stations are broadcast from radio studios in Pettenkofer Street, Windhoek, but many Oshiwambo programmes emanate from the studios in Oshakati,[31] the Rukavango service is broadcast from the studios in Rundu, the SiLozi service from Katima Mulilo and ǃHa Radio from Tsumkwe, although these are now available nationwide via digital terrestrial television.[32]

Television edit

NBC continued the television service of the SWABC introduced in 1981. Since the launch of digital terrestrial television in 2013 there are three television channels (NBC 1, 2 and 3, respectively), primarily in English, but with some programming in Afrikaans, German and indigenous languages (Monday–Thursday, 17:00–17:30 on NBC 1). A number of Deutsche Welle programmes also are relayed by NBC on radio and television.[33]

NBC 1 is also available on the DStv satellite television platform. NBC 2 and 3, however, can only be accessed by the aerial television network through proprietary decoders currently being sold throughout Namibia.[34] There was some discussion regarding the cost of these digital decoders.[35]

It had a monopoly on free-to-air television in Namibia until 2008, when the competitor One Africa Television, a new privately owned television station was launched.

NBC1 edit

A free to air channel that broadcast current affairs, children's programs, telenovelas, dramas and news.

NBC2 edit

A free to air channel that broadcast news channels and Eye on SADC.

NBC3 edit

A pay television that airs dramas, telenovelas, sports and movies.

References edit

  1. ^ Developmental radio broadcasting in Namibia and Tanzania: a comparative study, Johannes Ndeshihala Amupala University of Tampere, Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication, 1989, page 18
  2. ^ Annual Report, Department of National Education, 1976, page 77
  3. ^ It is No More a Cry: Namibian Poetry in Exile and Essays on Literature in Resistance and Nation Building, Henning Melber, Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 2004, page 86
  4. ^ Namibia's Long Walk to Freedom: The Role of Constitution Making in the Creation of an Independent Namibia, Marinus Weichers, Framing the State in Times of Transition: Case Studies in Constitution Making, Laurel E. Miller, Louis Aucoin US Institute of Peace Press, 2010, page 98
  5. ^ Encyclopedia of international media and communications, Volume 3, Donald H. Johnston Academic Press, 2003, page 158
  6. ^ Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa, Issues 7322-7373, BBC Monitoring Service, 1986
  7. ^ SWA/Namibia Today, The Service, 1980, page 105
  8. ^ The Laws of South West Africa, J. Meibert, 1979
  9. ^ Southern Africa Political & Economic Monthly, Volume 2, SAPES Publications Project, 1988, page 16
  10. ^ Sub-Saharan Africa Report, Issues 80-86, Foreign Broadcast Information Service., 1985, page 40
  11. ^ Public Broadcasting for the 21st Century, Marc Raboy University of Luton Press, 1995, page 230
  12. ^ a b On Record, Issues 12-20, SWA/Namibia Information Service, 1985, page 6
  13. ^ SWA/Namibia Today, Section Liaison Services, Department of Governmental Affairs, 1988, page 98
  14. ^ Economic development strategies for independent Namibia, Harbans Singh, Wilfred W. Asombang, United Nations Institute for Namibia, 1989, page 26
  15. ^ a b International TV & Video Guide, Richard Paterson, Tantivy Press, 1986, pages 181-183
  16. ^ Namibia Review, Volume 11, Directorate of Production and Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 2002, page 16
  17. ^ UN Peacekeeping in Action: The Namibian Experience, Roger Hearn, Nova Publishers, 1999, page 85
  18. ^ An investigation into the extent of impartiality of the South West African Broadcasting Corporation (radio and television news), Namibia Peace Plan 435 (Group), 1989, page 7
  19. ^ Peacekeeping and Public Information: Caught in the Crossfire, Ingrid A. Lehmann, Psychology Press, 1999, page 49
  20. ^ Initiating the "second Generation" of United Nations Operations: UNTAG in Namibia, Randall Harbour, Graduate Institute of International Studies, 1998, page 61
  21. ^ Namibia's information policy, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 1991, page 22
  22. ^ The role of English in Namibia: A sociocultural and linguistic account, Brian Harlech-Jones in Discrimination Through Language in Africa?: Perspectives on the Namibian Experience, Martin Pütz, Walter de Gruyter, 1995, page 199
  23. ^ From Revolutionary to Regime Radio: Three Decades of Nationalist Broadcasting in Southern Africa, Lebona Mosia, Charles Riddle, Jim Zaffiro in Africa Media Review, Volume 8, Issue 1, African Council for Communication Education, 1994
  24. ^ NBC no show delays CoD Congress start, The Namibian, 2 August 2004
  25. ^ DTA complains about 'biased coverage', New Era, 15 October 2014
  26. ^ "Namibian TV crew attacked", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 10, August–October 1996
  27. ^ "NBC air in more languages", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 26, August-October 2000
  28. ^ "Afrikaans to be introduced in Namibia", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 28, February-April 2001
  29. ^ "Namibia: NBC ups licence fees", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 32, February-April 2002
  30. ^ Media System and News Selection in Namibia, Andreas Rothe, 2010, p.41-53
  31. ^ "As Long as They Don't Bury Me Here": Social Relations of Poverty in a Namibian Shantytown, Inge Tvedten, Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 2011, page 59
  32. ^ New radio habits in Namibia, SIGNIS, December 15, 2015
  33. ^ Southern Africa, Deutsche Welle, 18 June 2015
  34. ^ Namibia: NBC goes digital nationwide, GOtv on the field, Balancing Act Africa, 24 October 2013
  35. ^ Funding The NBC: Digital Possibilities, Robin Tyson, The Namibian, 20 January 2013

External links edit

  • Namibian Broadcasting Corporation Official website
  • Clip of SWABC news in Afrikaans, 1987

namibian, broadcasting, corporation, other, uses, disambiguation, afrikaans, namibiese, uitsaai, korporasie, public, broadcaster, namibia, established, 1979, under, name, south, west, african, broadcasting, corporation, swabc, typepublic, broadcasterbrandingnb. For other uses see NBC disambiguation The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation NBC Afrikaans Namibiese Uitsaai Korporasie NUK is the public broadcaster of Namibia It was established in 1979 under the name South West African Broadcasting Corporation SWABC Namibian Broadcasting CorporationTypePublic BroadcasterBrandingNBCCountryNamibiaAvailabilityNamibiaSouth AfricaFoundedMay 1979 as the SWABC adopted current name in March 1990 OwnerGovernment of NamibiaFormer namesSouth West African Broadcasting CorporationTelevisionNBC 1 NBC 2 and NBC 3RadioMain Service English Language Services Afrikaans Khoekhoegowab German Oshiwambo Otjiherero RuKwangali Setswana siLozi HaOfficial websitewww wbr nbc wbr na Contents 1 History 1 1 From SABC to SWABC 1 2 Transition to independence 1 3 Post independence 2 Services 2 1 Radio 2 2 Television 2 2 1 NBC1 2 2 2 NBC2 2 2 3 NBC3 3 References 4 External linksHistory editRadio was originally broadcast in English and Afrikaans via shortwave from the South African Broadcasting Corporation s facilities in South Africa The SABC established a local FM transmitter network in November 1969 relaying Radio South Africa Radio Suid Afrika and Springbok Radio and establishing a number of services in native languages including Radio Ovambo broadcasting in the Kwanyama and Ndonga languages Radio Herero and Radio Damara Nama 1 The introduction of Radio Kavango along the northeastern border with Angola followed in February 1976 in the Kwangali Mbukushu and Gciriku languages 2 In 1965 the pro independence movement the South West Africa People s Organisation SWAPO began broadcasting a one hour radio programme from Tanzania on short wave known as The Namibian Hour 3 It later started broadcasting from Zambia 4 In 1974 it was renamed Voice of Namibia 5 By 1986 it was broadcasting from Angola Congo Ethiopia Madagascar and Zimbabwe as well as from Tanzania and Zambia 6 From SABC to SWABC edit nbsp SWABC logo 1979 1990 In May 1979 the SABC relinquished control of broadcasting services in the territory and a new broadcaster was established in its place 7 This was known as the South West African Broadcasting Corporation SWABC in Afrikaans as Suidwes Afrikaanse Uitsaaikorporasie SWAUK came into being 8 However 70 per cent of the SWABC s technical personnel were on secondment from the SABC 9 In addition a number of its programmes were prepared at the SABC s studios in Johannesburg before being dispatched to Windhoek for transmission 10 Under the authority of the South African appointed Administrator General the SWABC operated nine ethnic radio stations in English Afrikaans German Owambo Herero Lozi Tswana and Damara Nama with the national service broadcast only in English and Afrikaans 11 By March 1985 85 per cent of the population had FM radio service over 31 transmitting stations 12 The SWABC s television service was introduced in October 1981 serving 50 per cent of the population 13 via 11 transmitters 12 This comprised a mix of programming in English Afrikaans and German 90 per cent of which came from or via the SABC 14 Programmes were shown locally a week after South Africa 15 The SWABC received SABC TV programming which it recorded edited and rebroadcast first by using a microwave link and later via an Intelsat satellite link 16 However Walvis Bay an enclave of South Africa in Namibia until 1994 received the SABC s TV1 on a low power transmitter which was broadcast live via Intelsat from 1986 15 Transition to independence edit During the transition to independence in 1989 the SWABC was accused by the United Nations Transition Assistance Group UNTAG of bias in its news coverage portraying the pro independence SWAPO party as well as UNTAG in a negative light while being uncritical of press releases from the Administrator General s office the police force and anti SWAPO parties 17 It was accused of particular bias towards the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance with disproportionate coverage given to its press conferences and rallies 18 In addition in July 1989 the Administrator General was given three times as much airtime on SWABC TV as UNTAG 19 However while the SWABC had offered UNTAG five minutes of radio airtime daily and ten minute television slot in May 1989 UNTAG was unable to produce adequate broadcasts and failed to benefit from its allotted airtime until late June 20 Post independence edit Following independence in 1990 the new government made the decision to make English the sole language on NBC television while the existing English language national radio service was made the main channel for news sport public affairs and other programmes 21 Three months after independence NBC television began broadcasting entirely in English while broadcasting hours for radio services in other languages were reduced 22 Under the pre independence agreements most SWABC staff were able to keep their jobs at the new broadcaster but they were joined by SWAPO journalists who had previously worked for the Voice of Namibia leading to accusations of bias and favouritism from both sides 23 The NBC was also accused by opposition politicians of favouring SWAPO with Nora Schimming Chase vice president of the Congress of Democrats calling it the Nujoma Broadcasting Corporation a reference to Namibia s then President Sam Nujoma 24 The DTA of Namibia formerly the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance has also accused the NBC of giving coverage of political rallies that favour SWAPO at the expense of its rivals 25 On 6 July 1996 two NBC TV cameras were damaged beyond repair and one was stolen after a jazz concert failed to appear at the scheduled time Members of the crew were also injured The damaged cameras cost N 1 5 million 26 From 2000 more local languages were added to NBC s television news after consideration that more than 80 of its viewers did not understand English 27 Shortly afterwards it was announced that NBC would start television news in Afrikaans The delays were due to budget constraints and that all content in the language was sponsored by private companies 28 The broadcaster announced an increase in licensing fees in October 2001 the increase was scheduled to be set at 13 29 Services editRadio edit The NBC operates one 24 hour radio station in English NBC National Radio renamed National FM in 2017 and nine so called Language Services that broadcast between 10 and 15 hours per day in Oshiwambo Ovambo and Kwanyama established 1969 Damara Nama 1969 renamed Kaisamed FM Otjiherero 1969 Rukavango 1975 Afrikaans 1979 Afrikaanse Radio Diens renamed Hartklop FM in 2017 German 1979 Deutsches Horfunkprogramm renamed Funkhaus Namibia in 2017 Setswana 1981 98 Silozi 1986 and San ǃHa Radio 2003 30 The majority of radio stations are broadcast from radio studios in Pettenkofer Street Windhoek but many Oshiwambo programmes emanate from the studios in Oshakati 31 the Rukavango service is broadcast from the studios in Rundu the SiLozi service from Katima Mulilo and ǃHa Radio from Tsumkwe although these are now available nationwide via digital terrestrial television 32 Television edit NBC continued the television service of the SWABC introduced in 1981 Since the launch of digital terrestrial television in 2013 there are three television channels NBC 1 2 and 3 respectively primarily in English but with some programming in Afrikaans German and indigenous languages Monday Thursday 17 00 17 30 on NBC 1 A number of Deutsche Welle programmes also are relayed by NBC on radio and television 33 NBC 1 is also available on the DStv satellite television platform NBC 2 and 3 however can only be accessed by the aerial television network through proprietary decoders currently being sold throughout Namibia 34 There was some discussion regarding the cost of these digital decoders 35 It had a monopoly on free to air television in Namibia until 2008 when the competitor One Africa Television a new privately owned television station was launched NBC1 edit A free to air channel that broadcast current affairs children s programs telenovelas dramas and news NBC2 edit A free to air channel that broadcast news channels and Eye on SADC NBC3 edit A pay television that airs dramas telenovelas sports and movies References edit Developmental radio broadcasting in Namibia and Tanzania a comparative study Johannes Ndeshihala Amupala University of Tampere Dept of Journalism and Mass Communication 1989 page 18 Annual Report Department of National Education 1976 page 77 It is No More a Cry Namibian Poetry in Exile and Essays on Literature in Resistance and Nation Building Henning Melber Basler Afrika Bibliographien 2004 page 86 Namibia s Long Walk to Freedom The Role of Constitution Making in the Creation of an Independent Namibia Marinus Weichers Framing the State in Times of Transition Case Studies in Constitution Making Laurel E Miller Louis Aucoin US Institute of Peace Press 2010 page 98 Encyclopedia of international media and communications Volume 3 Donald H Johnston Academic Press 2003 page 158 Summary of World Broadcasts Non Arab Africa Issues 7322 7373 BBC Monitoring Service 1986 SWA Namibia Today The Service 1980 page 105 The Laws of South West Africa J Meibert 1979 Southern Africa Political amp Economic Monthly Volume 2 SAPES Publications Project 1988 page 16 Sub Saharan Africa Report Issues 80 86 Foreign Broadcast Information Service 1985 page 40 Public Broadcasting for the 21st Century Marc Raboy University of Luton Press 1995 page 230 a b On Record Issues 12 20 SWA Namibia Information Service 1985 page 6 SWA Namibia Today Section Liaison Services Department of Governmental Affairs 1988 page 98 Economic development strategies for independent Namibia Harbans Singh Wilfred W Asombang United Nations Institute for Namibia 1989 page 26 a b International TV amp Video Guide Richard Paterson Tantivy Press 1986 pages 181 183 Namibia Review Volume 11 Directorate of Production and Publicity Ministry of Information and Broadcasting 2002 page 16 UN Peacekeeping in Action The Namibian Experience Roger Hearn Nova Publishers 1999 page 85 An investigation into the extent of impartiality of the South West African Broadcasting Corporation radio and television news Namibia Peace Plan 435 Group 1989 page 7 Peacekeeping and Public Information Caught in the Crossfire Ingrid A Lehmann Psychology Press 1999 page 49 Initiating the second Generation of United Nations Operations UNTAG in Namibia Randall Harbour Graduate Institute of International Studies 1998 page 61 Namibia s information policy Ministry of Information and Broadcasting 1991 page 22 The role of English in Namibia A sociocultural and linguistic account Brian Harlech Jones in Discrimination Through Language in Africa Perspectives on the Namibian Experience Martin Putz Walter de Gruyter 1995 page 199 From Revolutionary to Regime Radio Three Decades of Nationalist Broadcasting in Southern Africa Lebona Mosia Charles Riddle Jim Zaffiro in Africa Media Review Volume 8 Issue 1 African Council for Communication Education 1994 NBC no show delays CoD Congress start The Namibian 2 August 2004 DTA complains about biased coverage New Era 15 October 2014 Namibian TV crew attacked Africa Film amp TV Magazine nº 10 August October 1996 NBC air in more languages Africa Film amp TV Magazine nº 26 August October 2000 Afrikaans to be introduced in Namibia Africa Film amp TV Magazine nº 28 February April 2001 Namibia NBC ups licence fees Africa Film amp TV Magazine nº 32 February April 2002 Media System and News Selection in Namibia Andreas Rothe 2010 p 41 53 As Long as They Don t Bury Me Here Social Relations of Poverty in a Namibian Shantytown Inge Tvedten Basler Afrika Bibliographien 2011 page 59 New radio habits in Namibia SIGNIS December 15 2015 Southern Africa Deutsche Welle 18 June 2015 Namibia NBC goes digital nationwide GOtv on the field Balancing Act Africa 24 October 2013 Funding The NBC Digital Possibilities Robin Tyson The Namibian 20 January 2013External links editNamibian Broadcasting Corporation Official website History of the South West African Broadcasting Corporation SWABC Letters From Robin Tyson from the former SWABC NBC manager Robin Tyson Clip of SWABC news in Afrikaans 1987 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Namibian Broadcasting Corporation amp oldid 1209115561, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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