DStv, Top TV and GOtv were relying on free-to-air decoders such as Wiztech, Vivid, Philibao, Fortec Star to access pirated signals through Chinese decoders.

Group chief executive Mr Happison Muchechetere said the national broadcaster was happy that pirate signals had finally come to an end.

“It is illegal for any country to have an overflow of signals, and SABC has been doing that in our territory. Botswana took Sentech to court and they won the case. At no point should overspill be allowed. In South Africa, they actually destroy these free-to-air decoders. Instead of buying a free-to-air decoder people should just pay up their radio and television licences so that they enjoy quality programming on ZBC-TV. You will be amazed that some of the programmes that they were watching on SABC are available on ZBC-TV,” Mr Muchechetere said.

“Yes, we might not match Hollywood movies, but certainly we will be able to screen the best from the local scene. Remember when urban grooves (music) started we made sure we played the music and the genre has since grown and people appreciate it. This is exactly the route we are going to take within the local film industry.”

Mr Muchechetere said ZBC-TV was as alternative as it was affordable.

Television viewers in Harare yesterday expressed disappointment over the recent switching off of SABC channels from the free-to-air decoders.

Yesterday most viewers said their world would never be the same given that the national broadcaster was failing to broadcast quality programmes.

“It would have been better had we known in advance, it has come all so suddenly. I cannot afford to subscribe to Multichoice and this means I might be left to rely on the dollar for two movies being sold in the streets,” said Mrs Tendai Tsaurai from Kuwadzana.

Other residents said they would resort to buying pirated discs with whole seasons of their favourite programmes. The channels were disconnected on Monday July 1 as a follow-up to last year’s ruling by the Johannesburg High Court that South African television signal carrier Sentech had to encrypt its signal in three months.

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