WINDHOEK – Those yet to buy the digital box that allows the digital streaming of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) television have until next year January 31 to do so. NBC says it has postponed the switch-off of the analogue “due to public demand for a grace period to acquire the NBC digital decoders.” The deadline was December 15 this year.
“It is not about the date, but rather about ensuring that ample decoders have been sold so that the viewers are not left in the dark during our analogue switch-off phases,” says NBC’s Commercial Manager for DTT, Ockert Jansen.
NBC, in compliance with the SADC Analogue Switch-Off (ASO) and 2006 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) resolution to migrate from analogue to digital will undergo the first phase of the analogue switch-off in the country on January 31 2015.
The first areas to be affected by this switch-off include Windhoek, Okahandja and Rehoboth.
The two transmitters in Windhoek to be switched off cover parts of Khomas Region, Grossherzog and Klein Windhoek towers. The ASO exercise will be simultaneously done by the NBC, One Africa Television and Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).
“To avoid being left in the dark, members of the public are urged to purchase their NBC decoders available at the NBC head office in Windhoek, at Mobipay at Wernhil Park and in Oshakati, as well as Pick n Pay Wernhil and Katutura, as well as FurnMart stores in Windhoek. Okahandja residents can purchase their decoders at Okahandja Electrical and FurnMart, while Rehoboth residents can go to FurnMart, Nissen Trading and Capricon FM,” said Jansen.
During the ASO exercise, mobile sales teams will be in these towns to cater for the increased demand for decoders. The price of the decoders is as follows: normal price N$199.00, half price N$99.50 applicable for pensioners, war veterans and disabled persons.
The requirements to purchase the decoders are the current TV licence (2014/2015), an ID document as well as proof of special status to qualify for the half price.
Positive aspects linked to the switch-off include improved video and audio quality, more viewing choices and PVR functions with the purchase of the NBC decoder.
By Staff Reporter