By Correspondent:

Tanzania’s broadcasting sub-sector has recorded modest growth, with the percentage of the population covered by digital terrestrial television (DTT) signal rising to 58 per cent in September 2024 from 56 in June this year, it has been reported.

The July-September quarterly report of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) released by the Authority’s Director General Dr. Jabiri Bakari shows that DTT and satellite television (DTH) signals cover the whole country.

The percentage of the geography area covered by the DTT signal rose from 32 to 33 between July and September 2024.

DTH coverage among the population rose from 75.52 per cent in June to 76 in September. The percentage of the population covered by FM broadcasting signal rose from 75.52 percent to 78 percent in the period. FM broadcast signals spread geographically from 49.94 to 56.5 per cent of Tanzania.

Between July and September 2024, TCRA issued 15 new broadcasting content service licenses. They include one regional radio content operator, five district radios, two community radios and three national subscription televisions.

Other new licensees are one online radio, one online content aggregator and two weblogs. The latter are websites containing an owner’s or others’ experiences, observations and opinions. Its content may include current news, events, journals, advertisements and images, video clips and links to other websites.

There are 246 radios, 33 free-to-air televisions, 63 cable televisions, 29 subscription televisions, 210 online televisions, 10 online radios, 66 web blogs, 146 courier companies and one postal operator – Tanzania Posts Corporation.


The report shows a mixed trend in cable television subscriptions. They increased from 14,350 in 2020 to 19,739 in 2021 and 22,295 the following year before falling to 16,223 in 2023. The report attributes the decreased cable television service subscriptions to the uptake of DTT and DTH services.

Some 18,820 subscriptions were recorded in June 2024. They increased by two per cent to 19,153 in September 2024.

Cable television services are popular in the Lake Zone. Shinyanga leads, with 4,845 subscriptions. Tabora is second, with 2,118, followed by Mwanza, with 2,075 and Dar es Salaam (1,169). Regions with the least Cable TV subscriptions are Mbeya, with 64; Manyara (91) and Tanga (230).

The report says most broadcasting service providers with a national footprint complied with requirements for programme diversity, airing content of an educational nature, and local content quotas.

Radio and television content Regulations require national broadcasters to ensure that 60 per cent of aired content is produced locally, reflecting the culture, language, and interests of the local audience.

They are also required to ensure their programmes are relevant to the Tanzanian society and to use Kiswahili or English.

However, some radio stations did not comply with the requirements for allocating at least 90 minutes a day for news.