Launched in the early 80s, Bop TV was operated by Bophuthatswana, one of the so-called "homelands". It offered a different perspective than the SABC's heavily biased news programming and wasn't so touchy on racial issues. Comic references to "whites" and "blacks" were not bleeped out as they were on SABC, and it screened more imported American shows like 'Benson', 'Ironside' and 'Mod Squad'.
We lived on Johannedburg's West Rand, so with the help of a long pole, a UHF aerial turned on its side and a signal booster we were able to catch it. I remember waiting for 5 in the afternoon when the transmission would start, excited to watch snowy illicit TV.
Bop TV was eventually shutdown in 2003.
There's a great section on Bop TV in the book Black Television Travels
... also check out South African whites clamor to tune in black TV.
I miss the BOP DAYS
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