NBC, France in battle over radio frequency

French ambassador to Namibia Jacqueline Bassa-Mazzoni has met with Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Director-General Albertus Aochamub over the broadcaster’s attempt to gain full control of its frequency, currently being used by Radio France International (RFI). RFI is a worldwide broadcasting network owned by the French government. The NBC wants to regain full ownership of its frequency that the French are using to reach out to its audience, citing security and other reasons. The Namibian government is said to be closely monitoring events around the deal, which some say has “national security implications” if the French are allowed to use the frequency without NBC’s control. RFI operates under the auspices and primary budget of the French ministry of foreign affairs and is a critical medium of spreading the French ideology and influence across the world. Aochamub confirmed upon enquiry yesterday that Bassa-Mazzoni paid him a visit to discuss the dispute between NBC and RFI, following an agreement initially reached between the two parties in 2000. The agreement was again renewed in 2012 and runs until 2017. “The ambassador came to see us, saying the message of his country needs to be heard in Namibia. I told her that this matter needs to be discussed first at corporate level before we can drag in governments,” Aochamub told Namibian Sun. RFI has been using NBC’s frequency for over a decade after the two organisations - as a result of an agreement reached at the turn of the century - sealed a radio joint venture deal, which subsequently did not get off the ground. As part of the agreement, RFI was also to provide training to NBC in the areas related to news broadcasting. “The agreement does not say RFI will enjoy exclusivity on that frequency,” Aochamub said in reference to NBC’s attempt to regain control of its frequency currently used by RFI. Aochamub said the current situation, where the French broadcaster enjoys exclusivity and uncensored editorial control, is a security risk. “We don’t have editorial control over what is broadcasted on our frequency that they are using. There is a security element to why we want to have full control of our frequency, and this is what the colleagues in France are failing to understand,” he said. A meeting with an RFI executive president about this standoff was scheduled to take place in Windhoek yesterday, but was postponed to next week. Aochamub said in next week’s meeting, the NBC will urge RFI to apply for its own frequency from the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) or the French company must dance to NBC’s tune regarding the use of the current frequency. “We want to start using our frequency while accommodating RFI. The frequency is allocated to us by the regulator and we are accountable for whatever message it carries, so we need to assume full control.” Next week’s meeting was in part a result of Aochamub’s insistence to engage RFI representatives, rather than dealing with the local French ambassador. “The ambassador is tasked to preach the message of her president. What we want is to talk face-to-face with the executives of RFI.” The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) is said to be fully backing NBC’s stance on the matter, especially about the security concerns. Information and Communication Technology Minister Joel Kaapanda could not be reached for comment yesterday.