STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Apart from the increased usage of social media, as the country draws close to the deadline of the digital migration process, government in the quarter under review procured five (5) Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans for the ZNBC to improve its signal and broadcast quality3. Apart from the purchased vans on behalf of the national broadcaster, ZNBC and ZANIS had their studios renovated. According to Lusaka Times: Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya disclosed that the refurbishment of ZNBC and ZANIS studios have been completed with state of the art equipment installed. Ms. Siliya has since challenged the two institutions to work on the business side of the project and its subsequent sustainability. She hoped that with the new OB vans there will be improved execution of duty and signal so that viewers can also appreciate the shift in technology. Another notable case in the quarter under review was the TopStar Village TV project, which saw an increase in the number of satellite television being distributed in the country. Government in partnership with the Chinese government is distributing satellite TV4 in rural areas in a bid to increase access to information in rural areas. Among the areas the distribution was announced include, Kabombo5 (North western Province), Sioma6 (Western Province) and Sinungu (Western Province). This is part of the Chinese aid to the Zambian government. Another technological trend in the quarter is the announced plan by the Times of Zambia on its plans to launch an e-library. On 8th August, during the Agriculture and Commercial Show, Times Printpak Zambia Limited announced that once launched, the electronic library will give researchers and other users of past information access into the company‟s rich trove of historical material from any part of the world7. 3 Lusaka Times – Dora Siliya hands over five broadcast vans to ZNBC – 11th July, 2018 Zambia Daily Mail – Satellite TV installation extended – rural communities to access information – 5th September, 2018 5 Zambia Daily Mail – Government distributes equipment for satellite TV in Kabompo – 6th September, 2018 6 Times of Zambia – Village TV launched in Sioma – 10th Septmember, 2018 7 Times of Zambia – Times to launch e-library – Ng’onga – 8th August, 2018 4 9