Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has demanded an explanation from Times Group after the media house changed programming for Times Radio and Times TV on Friday.
This comes after Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) closed the media house’s office over unpaid taxes.
According to a letter addressed to Times and signed by Macra director general Godfrey Itaye, the regulator want to know why Times Radio and TV did not follow its own programme schedules and formats.
“We note that on 13th January, 2017 you did not follow programme schedules and formats as submitted. Times television relayed feed from BBC without carrying any other programming, whilst Times Radio played music the whole day. There was no formal communication made to the authority on the programmes change,” said Itaye in the letter.
He also reminded Times Radio and TV that they are prohibited from changing 20 percent of their programme schedule without authorization from the authority as stipulated in clause 12 of Times TV’s and clause 10.3 of Times Radio’s licences.
Meanwhile, the regulatory body has given Times Group a seven day ultimatum to explain in writing why it did not follow the programme formats and schedules and why the authority was not informed of any change.
Times TV and Radio failed to broadcast most of their programmes on Friday due to the closure of Times Group’s offices which houses both the radio and TV.
53 thoughts on “Macra questions Times over programming”
Comments are closed.
What explanation is the myopic Macra looking for from Times? Is Times an independent entity or a govt parastatal? If the answer is the former then they have to leave them alone.period.
There are alot of young men who are unemployed in this country and yet other blutes at MACRA are just spending our taxes on nothing.God, remove them through any of your means from their positions and employment, and replace them with the young graduates and other people who are ready to serve their country whole heartedly. Our God is greater than Dpp and will offer those jobs to his children very soon.
Ndiyamba kulakwa, I rest my case.
2019 is just around the coner. Mabwana nonse aku MRA & MACRA take care. Coz 2019 is the end and fall of dpp.
with our cracked lips we pretend to smile and no one sees it because we’re dark darkened with the sun of torture and we call it flames I guess we are living in great furnise
wat is hapenig actualy,4n yanga siikuwonexa zonse.
macra n MRA mwafikapo tsapano buanj osamakamba zina kupanda mzeru nde kti dikilani ndithu kungoti kumalawi kulibe mfuti kma i swear that patangopezeka omandibuereka mfuti onse awa azatha i swear .dziko silawo lokha anyani amenewa kumaba dollar kma nkhope osasintha kukwinyika kwakeko a chapondawa nde hhhhhhi kunyasa ndi mtima omwe 2019 is just near waiting for us to do our best