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Reply To: | AAM (African Association of Madison) |
Date: | Fri, 3 May 2002 09:34:17 -0500 |
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Namibian television viewers settling down for the latest instalment of a
mini-series got more than they bargained for this week after a control-room
technician pressed the wrong button.
Instead of the scheduled programme at 2245 on Monday night, scenes from a
pornographic film were transmitted to thousands of homes by the state-run
Namibian Broadcasting Corporation.
Two of the broadcaster's employees were alleged to have been watching the
offending film on videotape at the time.
The two - a television director and a technician - have been dismissed.
Their claim that they had not known what was on the tape was rejected by a
hastily-convened disciplinary panel.
'Laughter'
The BBC's Frauke Jensen in Windhoek says the incident gave rise to a debate
about the duties and credibility of Namibia's national broadcaster - not
least in Parliament where members were discussing the budget for the
ministry of foreign affairs, broadcasting and information.
MPs not only lambasted the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation for bad
reporting and overspending, they also found time to joke about the
accidental sex session on TV.
One MP said: "We know that we can do it, and how to do it, but it shouldn't
be shown to us."
Broadcasting Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab met the jibe with a comment that
provoked laughter all around.
"I missed the show...on TV," he said. "I understand it was quite
informative."
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