YTV is a

Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...

n commercial television channel. The channel broadcasts general entertainment content. Throughout much of its life the channel was owned by foreigners, from launch to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2018.

History

The channel started broadcasting in 1988 as Gaborone Broadcasting Company (GBC), which in its beginnings was a small viewers' association paid by fees from a limited number of its viewers. There was much reluctancy in its early years, especially due to its proximity with

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

and the ease of receiving signals from that country. Up until the early 2000s, GBC was a closed-circuit television station with coverage limited exclusively to

Gaborone Gaborone ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census. Gaboron ...

. Entertainment content made up much of its offer, yet it also screened educational content, both foreign and national, the latter of which in accordance with the Botswanan Ministry of Education. The station produced the first Botswanan talk show, Dumela, in 1996. The six-episode programme tackled issues such as alcohol abuse, single parenting, fashion and other topics. In August 2002, the station gained a full broadcasting licence, having also set up terrestrial transmitters in

Francistown Francistown is the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 103,417 and 147,122 inhabitants for its agglomeration at the 2022 census. and often described as the "''Capital of the North''" or as the natives would have it “''T ...

and

Selebi-Phikwe Selebi-Phikwe (also spelt ''Selibe Phikwe'') is a mining town located in the Central District of Botswana. It had a population of 42,488 in 2022. The town is an administrative district, separate from the surrounding Central District. Mining ...

. With the closure of

TVAfrica TVAfrica was a pan-African television network founded in 1998 by former advertising executive Dave Kelly alongside sports broadcaster Berry Lambert. The network relayed up to 80% of its content to private television stations in sub-Saharan Africa ...

in 2003, the station was in limbo. New programmes were created to fill the gaps left by the former partner. In 2004, it aired the local drama series Flat 101 by production company Flave, after

Botswana Television Botswana Television (also known as BTV and Botswana TV) is the national broadcaster in Botswana. Botswana's first national television service started in 2000 following a 1997 government decision. The station delivers thirteen hours of local and in ...

had rejected. After sixteen years under British control, the station was sold to local businessman Mike Klink. The programming by 2003 consisted of a mix of SABC,

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

and other international content, as well as locally produced news bulletins and international sporting events. In 2004, it was received by 450,000 people, of which 160,000 were regular viewers. In September 2007, Sabido Investments, owner of

e.tv e.tv (commonly referred to on-air as e) is the first and only privately owned free-to-air television station in South Africa. It is the fifth terrestrial television channel in the country, following three channels that are operated by the sta ...

in neighbouring

, bought 49% of the channel's shares, aiming to go national at the long term. With the buyout, the station underwent through massive technical upgrades, ahead of a revamp initially slated for 1 May 2008. The new schedule started on 15 July. In early 2010, the National Broadcasting Board approved the rename of the channel to eBotswana, to match the new part-owners, and pledged to introduce a new, improved programming offer, while still lacking a national license, which was described by the station's general manager David Coles as being a long process. The new name would be put to place as early as April.

References

{{Media in Botswana Television channels and stations established in 1988 Television in Botswana Broadcasting companies of Botswana