In November last year the company won a multi-million rand contract to build a public broadcaster for the semi-independent government of Southern Sudan.
The public broadcasting solution to be provided by the company includes the development of the existing Southern Sudan Television (SSTV), which is currently received in Juba only, into a national station with a new distribution infrastructure that will include Direct to Home (DTH) technology.
The company will also develop the existing Radio Southern Sudan into a national station and build 10 other radio stations to cover all of the country's provinces.
In terms of the agreement, Urban Brew Studios will provide training to radio and television personnel from Southern Sudan. The company will procure, install and commission various types of broadcasting equipment, including studios and transmission equipment.
Company shareholder, Zwelakhe Sisulu, spoke about their commitment to developing media in the Sudanese region of the continent. Sisulu said, “… this partnership, which was initiated three years ago with the late Southern Sudan President, John Garang, is finally a realization.”
“Urban Brew brings a proven track record in producing the best in television. Its model of transferring skills to young people is without peer in the South African independent television production sector. Urban Brew now has the opportunity to export their talent in the media production industry into Southern Sudan,” Mr. Sisulu concluded.
Says Danie Ferreira, the company's MD, “We were tendering against the best of Europe and the East and we're very proud of the fact that South Africa won the bid. This is another opportunity for us to make our mark on the international media landscape.”
The journalists who have arrived are all eager to start their television production training. They will be undergoing theoretical training in writing, editing and producing television programs in genres such as news, current affairs, documentaries and magazine shows. Following the theoretical training, they will undergo practical training in which they will produce programs that will be broadcast by SSTV (Southern Sudan Television).
The agreement between Urban Brew Studios and the Government of Southern Sudan indicates that the company will take responsibility for the broadcasting of SSTV from February 15, 2008.
The trainees in Johannesburg will receive their training through mentorship in the packaging and broadcasting of the television channel.
