Exact reasons have not been provided for why MultiChoice’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) service GOtv Zimbabwe has completely gone off air.

The GOtv service uses DVB-T2 technology standard, which allows for no less than 21 channels per frequency and an opportunity for lower income earners to afford digital television packages.

MultiChoice, which is owned by Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed company Naspers, has launched GOtv services in nine African countries: Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Namibia.

According to results of the Naspers group for the six months to 30 September 2013, outside South Africa the expansion of the DTT service under the GOtv brand grew to 547,000 paying households.

But in January this year, GOtv Zimbabwe suddenly stopped broadcasting after the service was launched in February 2013 at an event held by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information.

MultiChoice has since provided explanations on why the Zimbabwean service was halted; although, the company has stopped short of providing exact reasons for the stoppage.

Statements from the company at first included explanations such as “service disruption” and “ongoing engagement with the relevant authorities” as MultiChoice has promised refunds to subscribers in Zimbabwe.

Subsequently, MultiChoice has also said the disruption is a result of a “shareholding dispute”, but the company has not provided further details on this either.

MultiChoice general manager for corporate communications, Caroline Creasy, explained to ITWeb Africa that GOtv Zimbabwe is a joint initiative of MultiChoice Africa, DAE and Transmedia, “pursuant to a shareholders agreement which was signed among the parties.”

This agreement fitted with the GOtv model of “public private partnerships”, Creasy said.

“On 31 January 2014 GOtv transmitters were switched off without prior notice to the management of GOtv, MultiChoice Africa or GOtv subscribers,” Creasy told ITWeb Africa.

“GOtv stakeholders have, jointly and individually, been in discussions with the regulatory and government officials in order to resolve the situation. These discussions relate primarily to the shareholding in GOtv. No agreement has yet been reached on the matter,” Creasy told ITWeb Africa on Tuesday.

It is unclear as to how many GOtv subscribers have been switched off in Zimbabwe, as MultiChoice has not revealed usage numbers of the service in the country.

But MultiChoice says it is trying to resolve the problem.

“Unfortunately this is something beyond our control. However we will continue to engage the relevant authorities in order to have the GOtv signal restored as soon as possible,” Creasy told ITWeb Africa.

“The rollout of the service was on track, and was rendered unavailable due to issues beyond our control. The rollout plans remain on track, and we would be able to increase coverage and subscriber take up as soon as a decision is taken to switch the service back on air. Unfortunately, this decision is not in our hands.

“The matter is still under discussion, and, although it is out of our hands, it is our hope that the service will be back up soon,” said Creasy.