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Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation signal on DStv was de-actived on Thursday at the instructions of Fifa to prevent people from watching the World Cup for free.
The tournament started in Brazil on Thursday. ZBC apologised to its viewers but said it would broadcast all the 64 matches through terrestrial television where viewers would use a normal aerial.

“ZBC wishes to apologise to its viewers receiving the ZBC TV signal on the Dstv platform for interruption of transmission since the beginning of the World Cup Brazil 2014,” said the national broadcaster’s head of production and TV services, Mr Clifford Mfiri.

“ZBC has received correspondence from MultiChoice Zimbabwe to the effect that they have been notified by the world football governing body, fifa, to effect a blanket ban on all free to air channels broadcasting the games.”

Mr Mfiri said the national broadcaster made efforts to acquire rights to broadcast the football games.

“ZBC has acquired the rights to the tournament and is broadcasting all 64 matches and is accessible through terrestrial TV where viewers need a normal aerial and not a satellite dish to receive the ZBC signal,” he said. “Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.”

The 2014 fifa World Cup kicked off in Brazil on Thursday and 32 nations, including five from Africa, are battling it out to win the prestigious tournament that is held once every four years.