Broadcasting Authority Of Zimbabwe

What Broadcasting Authority Of Zimbabwe does

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is a statutory regulatory body established in 2001 under the Broadcasting Services Act Chapter 12:06, operating as the sole licensing and compliance authority for all broadcasting services within Zimbabwe. Headquartered at 27 Boscobel Drive West, Highlands, Harare, the authority operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service, with its CEO appointed by the President. BAZ issues licences across seven categories including commercial radio, commercial television, community radio, campus radio, webcasting, subscription broadcasting services, and signal carriers, and additionally monitors broadcasting equipment importation into the country.

BAZ's operational stack includes spectrum monitoring equipment (currently being procured via tender BAZ/SME03/TD/2025), frequency planning systems, digital broadcasting compliance monitoring tools, and a forthcoming FM Broadcasting Guide that will provide frequency allocation mapping, coverage planning, and regulatory compliance checklists. Supporting resources include standardized application forms (BS1 and BS2), a Code of Conduct for Broadcasters, a Complaints Handling Procedure framework, and quarterly newsletters. The authority processes payments through the PayNow online gateway and manages procurement via the PRAZ eGP system.

BAZ generates revenue almost exclusively through licensing fees and annual regulatory fees levied on licensed broadcasters. Effective June 2026, fees were reduced by approximately 50% under Statutory Instrument 103 of 2026 as part of the Government's Ease of Doing Business agenda. The authority also generates ancillary revenue through equipment importation monitoring fees. BAZ is not a commercially operating enterprise; it is a state entity with no venture or private equity backing, no disclosed revenue figures, and no public shareholding, functioning instead as a government statutory body with a single-country domestic service area.

Name

Broadcasting Authority Of Zimbabwe

Legal name

Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe

Website

https://baz.co.zw

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broadcasting Regulation

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (92613), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

akta.pro primary industry

Communications, Media & Spectrum Regulators (BPAIAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Licensing & Permitting Authorities (General) (BPAIAOAB)

Keywords

• Broadcasting regulation
• Broadcasting licensing
• Spectrum management
• Content compliance monitoring
• Consumer protection broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Harare

HQ country

Zimbabwe

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Regulatory Fees: BAZ generates revenue through issuing broadcasting licences and collecting annual regulatory fees from licensed broadcasters including commercial radio/TV, community radio, subscription services, and signal carriers. Fees were reduced by approximately 50% effective June 2026 under S.I. 103 of 2026.
2. Equipment Importation Monitoring Fees: Monitoring and regulation of broadcasting equipment importation into Zimbabwe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is the statutory regulatory body that regulates and licenses broadcasting services in Zimbabwe. It issues broadcasting licences across categories including commercial radio, commercial television, community radio, campus radio, webcasting, subscription broadcasting services, and signal carriers. The authority additionally manages frequency spectrum planning and allocation, monitors broadcast content for compliance, handles consumer complaints, monitors broadcasting equipment importation, and runs broadcaster capacitation programmes.

Product overview

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is a statutory regulatory body that does not offer a commercial product platform but provides licensing, regulatory, and compliance services for broadcasting in Zimbabwe. Core services include: (1) Regulation and Licensing of broadcasters including commercial radio/TV, community radio, campus radio, subscription services, webcasting, and signal carriers; (2) Consumer Affairs covering broadcast content monitoring, complaints handling, consumer protection, and consumer education; (3) Frequency Spectrum Planning and Allocation; (4) Broadcasting Equipment Importation Monitoring; and (5) Broadcaster Capacitation. Supporting resources include the FM Broadcasting Guide (upcoming digital planning tool), licensing application forms (BS1 and BS2), Code of Conduct for Broadcasters, Complaints Handling Procedures, newsletters, and the Strategic Plan 2026-2030. The FM Broadcasting Guide is a planned comprehensive tool for FM broadcasters providing frequency planning, coverage mapping, and regulatory guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Radio and Television Broadcasting Licences Statutory licences issued to commercial radio and television broadcasters operating in Zimbabwe, granting authority to operate broadcasting services subject to regulatory fees and compliance with broadcasting standards.
• Community Radio Broadcasting Licences Licences issued to non-profit community radio stations serving specific geographic or interest-based communities in Zimbabwe.
• Campus Radio Broadcasting Licences Licences issued to radio stations operated by educational institutions for campus-based broadcasting services in Zimbabwe.
• Webcasting Service Licences Licences issued for online streaming and web-based broadcasting services operating in Zimbabwe.
• Subscription Broadcasting Service Licences Licences issued to subscription-based television and pay-media services operating in Zimbabwe.
• Signal Carrier Licences Licences issued to entities responsible for broadcasting signal transmission and distribution infrastructure in Zimbabwe.
• Temporary Free-to-air Religious Community Radio Broadcasting Service Licences Temporary 5-year broadcasting licences issued for free-to-air religious community radio broadcasting services in Bulawayo, Harare, and Masvingo, with a USD $2,000 application fee and USD $7,060 annual regulatory fee.
• FM Broadcasting Guide

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in broadcasting licensing and regulatory fees across various categories
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001BAZ operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service. The President of Zimbabwe approves key appointments including the CEO, with appointments communicated through the Ministry.
• Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ)coreTechnology or IntegrationBAZ uses the eGP (Electronic Government Procurement) system managed by PRAZ for all tender submissions and procurement processes. Bids for spectrum monitoring equipment and road show trucks are submitted through the eGP system.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): Australia's statutory regulator for broadcasting, telecommunications, radiocommunications, and online content. Comparable to BAZ in licensing, spectrum allocation, and content compliance mandate, though ACMA operates over a broader multi-sector communications portfolio.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC): The U.S. federal regulator for interstate and international communications, including radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. Directly comparable to BAZ as a statutory communications and broadcasting regulator with licensing, spectrum allocation, and enforcement authority — but at vastly larger scale and over a multi-segment communications portfolio.
• Ofcom (UK): The United Kingdom's communications regulator, overseeing broadcasting, telecommunications, and postal services, with licensing, content standards, and spectrum management functions. Directly comparable to BAZ's statutory broadcasting licensing and consumer protection mandate, though Ofcom also covers telecoms and operates at greater scale.
• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC): Canada's federal regulator for broadcasting and telecommunications, overseeing licensing, content standards, and consumer protection. Comparable statutory mandate to BAZ covering radio, TV, and digital broadcasting licensing, though CRTC also regulates telecom and operates in a developed market.

Regional players

• Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA): Tanzania's statutory regulator for telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal services, with licensing and spectrum management functions. Comparable to BAZ as a neighbouring East African national broadcasting regulator with similar small-market dynamics and a comparable mix of community and commercial licensing categories.
• Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA): Botswana's statutory regulator for telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal services. Comparable to BAZ as a neighbouring Southern African broadcasting regulator with licensing, spectrum, and content oversight functions, though Botswana's market is smaller and more economically stable.
• Communications Authority of Kenya (CA): Kenya's statutory regulator for telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal services, with licensing, spectrum management, and compliance enforcement. Comparable to BAZ as an African national broadcasting regulator with overlapping mandate across commercial radio/TV, community, and digital broadcasting licensing.

Direct peers

• Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA): Malawi's statutory regulator for broadcasting, telecommunications, and postal services, with licensing and spectrum management functions. Closely comparable to BAZ as a Southern African neighbouring regulator operating under similar legal and market conditions for a small national broadcasting market.
• Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC): Nigeria's statutory regulator for radio and television broadcasting, with licensing, content standards, and monitoring functions. Comparable to BAZ as an African national broadcasting regulator with analogous mandate across commercial, community, and subscription broadcasting segments.
• Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA): South Africa's statutory regulator for broadcasting, telecommunications, and postal services, responsible for licensing, spectrum allocation, and compliance enforcement. Closest regional peer to BAZ given shared Southern African context, comparable legal mandate structure, and similar broadcasting/customer licensing categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/broadcasting-authority-of-zimbabwe

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Broadcasting Authority Of Zimbabwe