TopStar TV partnership to create jobs

Wed, 17 May 2017 09:46:05 +0000

By MUKOSELA KASALWE

GOVERNMENT’s partnership with the Chinese communications company TopStar will boost local media content and create jobs, says TopStar chief executive officer Leo Liao.

Mr Liao said the firm would construct 70 sites around the country which would enable television viewers have access to 38 channels through their terrestrial decoders, unlike the previous scenario under analogue where it was not feasible.

He said TopStar was a joint venture between Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation and Star Times of China, adding that Government had subsidised decoders which were being sold at K199 and stated that the platform would immensely contribute to the growth of the local media industry.

Mr Liao said this yesterday in Lusaka, that investors of television stations would receive leverage as they would no longer have to construct their own communication transmitters but would use the TopStar platform which has news content, movies, sports, soap opera and many other entertainment platforms.

He said 200 jobs had been created and that more were expected as the programme continued to be rolled out.

‘‘The joint venture between the Government of Zambia and TopStar will boost local media content and create jobs,’’ he said.

He said the firm was determined to promote the growth of local media industry by encouraging the production of local content, saying it was one of the ways of preserving culture and the country’s rich heritage.

Mr Liao previously worked in Tanzania and successfully implemented television digital migration in that country.