The government has called for stronger enforcement of intellectual property rights and closer cooperation among industry players to combat content piracy, warning that illegal distribution of television programmes threatens investment in Tanzania’s creative industry.
Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Hamisi Mwinjuma said piracy deprives content creators, broadcasters and investors of revenue, discouraging the production of quality local content.
He said protecting intellectual property was critical to sustaining the creative economy and ensuring that artists and other industry players benefited from their work.
“Piracy undermines the value chain that supports content creation, distribution and innovation. It deprives creators of their rightful earnings and discourages future investment in the industry. We must work together to protect intellectual property and create an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive,” he said.
Mr Mwinjuma was speaking during the launch of DStv Tanzania’s new ‘Expect More’ customer proposition at the Serena Hotel, where he urged government institutions, regulators, content owners, broadcasters and consumers to work together in addressing the problem.
He commended MultiChoice Tanzania for its investment in local productions, noting that access to quality content was important in informing, educating and entertaining audiences.
His remarks came as the pay-TV operator announced changes to its subscription packages, alongside plans to expand local programming and introduce additional language offerings.
MultiChoice Tanzania chief executive officer Sophie Tchatchoua said the new proposition was designed to improve affordability and provide subscribers with content that reflects their preferences.
“Expect More is about giving our customers more value and more reasons to stay connected to DStv. We have redesigned our offering to provide customers with richer entertainment experiences through more accessible packages, stronger local content and content presented in the language they connect with most,” she said.
A key change involves reduced subscription costs for sports content, with the new DStv Sports package offering UEFA Champions League coverage at TZS50,000, down from TZS118,000.
This represents a reduction of more than 50 per cent.
The English Premier League will also be available through DStv Select at TZS25,000, compared with the previous entry price of TZS68,000.
The revised packages are intended to widen access to premium sports content while giving subscribers more options at different price points.
The company is also seeking to strengthen its local content offering through increased investment in Tanzanian and other African productions.
Another addition is SuperSport Swahili, a dedicated sports channel providing football and other sporting coverage with Kiswahili commentary and analysis.
The service is expected to make sports coverage more accessible to Kiswahili-speaking audiences across the region.
Families will also benefit from Ubongo Kids, an educational programme combining entertainment and learning for children through locally relevant content.
Ms Tchatchoua said investment in local storytelling, sports and educational programming would remain central to the company's strategy.
She also echoed the government's concerns about piracy, saying the protection of intellectual property was necessary to sustain investment in the industry.
“As we continue investing in local storytelling, sports and educational programming, we are also reaffirming our commitment to protecting the value of content. The fight against piracy is a shared responsibility because sustainable investment in content depends on ensuring that creators and broadcasters receive fair returns for their work,” she said.
The launch brought together government and industry representatives, highlighting the connection between affordable access to entertainment, investment in local productions and the protection of intellectual property.
For Tanzania's creative industry, the challenge remains ensuring that content creators and investors can earn returns from their work while audiences gain access to quality and affordable entertainment.