IBA extends “cooling off ” window

By Sharon Siame

The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has extended the ‘cooling off’ window for media institutions for another three months.

The window will now run up to the end of February 2025.

The cooling off window allows broadcasting stations to switch off their equipment between midnight and 06:00 hours.

IBA Board Chairperson, Chikosola Chuula, says the intervention is aimed at helping stations reduce operational costs caused by the high expenses of running alternative power sources.

Mr. Chuula says the extension has been arrived at following consultations with stakeholders and a survey conducted by the Authority on the impact of load shedding on broadcasting stations.

This was during a press briefing to reflect on the year 2024 in Lusaka today.

He says the “cooling-off” window was initially issued for three months, from October 2024 to January 2025.

Mr. Chuula said by the third quarter of 2024, the Authority renewed thirteen broadcasting licences and that they all complied with the law.

He said the IBA did not issue any advertisements for frequencies in 2024 as stations licensed in 2023 were authorised to start full broadcasting in 2024.