Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) in Botswana: Prospects and Challenges

The year 2015 was set by the ITU for most of its member states in Africa, Asia and Europe to adapt digital broadcasting formats. With a focus on Botswana, this chapter indicates that digital migration is an expensive project whose costs overwhelmingly outweigh its benefits. The promise that DTTB will bring significant structural changes to the broadcasting sector in Botswana has not been archived. Interestingly, television broadcasting remains state dominated, and there are challenges related to the accessibility of technical equipment compatible with the adopted ISDB standard. The chapter argues that the experiences of digital broadcasting in some African states reflect that the continued importation of Western ideas, such as DTTB, remains detached from local realities.