STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBA In another broadcasting story, Government’s partnership with the Chinese communications company Top Star is expected to boost local media content and create jobs says Top Star 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 K 199 and stated that the platform would immensely contribute to the growth of the local media industry. “The joint venture between the government of Zambia and TopStar will boost local media content and create jobs”. However, despite these important developments, changes in the broadcast sector were insignificant in relation to review which was conducted at the beginning of the first quarter of 2017.16 According to the IBA list obtained for the quarter under review, the distribution of broadcast outlets that includes both licence and operational are as follows; the number of television outlets remained at 41 with 26 television stations operational, 111 Radio stations countrywide out of which 100 are operational. Further, there were 3 licensees with Subscription Management Service as at the date of capture. The tables below illustrates the distribution further. STATISTICS ON THE LINCESEE CATEGORY – MAY 2017 Licensee Category Frequency Percent Commercial free to Air Television 26 16.9 Commercial free to air radio 49 31.8 8 5.2 60 39.0 Satellite Subscription Broadcasting 3 1.9 Subscription Management Service 3 1.9 Landing Rights Broadcasting Service 5 3.2 155 100.0 Community free to air Television Community Free to air Radio Total 16 Daily Nation 17th April, 2017 21 | P a g e