STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA levy will be collected through Subscription Management Services (SMSs). The announced was followed by a Cabinet Circular4. “This is to notify members of the public that collection of TV levy will now be through Subscription Management Services (SMSs) effective 1st April 2018. A TV levy of K5.00 will be collected by the SMSs and is mandatory as it is now Law. This means that as you pay your monthly subscription from your service providers, you will be required to pay an additional K5.00 for TV levy. This follows an amendment to both the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act of 2001 and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Act of 2010 which mandates the IBA to collect TV Levy,” Cabinet Office Circular. The role of IBA in the collection process therefore remains unclear as the funds still have to go to ZNBC. Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Concerning the national broadcaster, the year started on disappointing and questionable note in the way the public service provider was being run. One of the most pressing issues though not yet in the clear is the ownership of ZNBC. The questioning of ownership comes after the digital migration process where previously ZNBC was the signal carrier for all broadcasters in partnership with Multi-choice. However, after the coming on board of TopStar, a Chinese company to help with the digital migration, the company became the signal carrier for all broadcasters. Rumours of shutting down the private media emerged among private media houses with the issue not addressed directly by government. On 7th March, 2018, Diamond TV reported that TopStar halted5 the move to switch off local TV. 4 th Cabinet Circular 29 March, 2018: Collection Of TV Levy Through Subscription Management Services (SMSs) EFFECTIVE 1ST APRIL 2018 5 th Diamond TV, 7 March, 2018: TopStar Halts Move To Switch Off Local TV 9