In a deal signed last week with pan African broadcaster, the African
Broadcast Network (ABN) will deliver international quality programming to
Swazi Television with immediate effect.
ABN's first broadcast in Swaziland will go out on Monday 15th October during
primetime between 18h30 and 20h00, and Swazi viewers can expect to tune into
programmes never before seen on the station.
Swaziland's first experience of ABN's programming will include the hilarious
"Kids Say the Darndest Things", hosted by everyone's favourite comedian,
Bill Cosby. Other quality shows wills include the socially minded sitcom One
World, in which a Miami family have to cope with kids from different
cultures, making for engaging lighthearted entertainment. STV promises both
programmes will make compelling family viewing that will appeal to Swazis.
STV's partnership with ABN is one of a number of joint ventures entered into
by ABN on the continent. The pan-African network has signed up with a
number of national broadcasters across Africa including Ghana, Kenya,
Nigeria, Tanzania Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Lenny Shoulder, head of marketing at STV explained the significance of the
ABN partnership for the broadcaster; "One of our major strategies at STV is
to bring in good international programming to our viewers and ABN will help
us address this by supplying us with the right material. Its a win-win
situation for the station, the viewers and for ABN".
The ABN relationship is still in its infancy and is set to grow. During its
initial broadcast period, ABN will deliver a one hour, weekday slot on the
station and this will increase to two hours a day in the future.
Tatenda Chiweshe, ABN's Director: Business Development believes that ABN has
much to offer: "Our mission is to provide quality programming to our partner
broadcasters and this is exactly what we are doing with Swazi TV. We also
believe the ABN partnership will play a crucial role in attracting revenue
to the station by targeting the international advertisers who have
traditionally been out of reach."
ABN's role in the development of pan-African communications has been
recognised by Modern African Growth and Investment Company LLC, which has
provided funding for the new television network. Modern Africa's investors
include blue chip companies like Microsoft, Societe General and
AIG-SunAmerica. ABN is a UK registered company with offices in London and
Johannesburg and affiliate offices in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
Enquiries:
Moky Makura
FCB Redline
Switchboard: (+27 11) 301 1300
Direct Line: (+27 11) 301 1319
Cell: 082 561 0096
Physical address: 15 Fredman Drive, Sandton
Postal address: PO Box78014, Sandton 2146
www.fcbredline.co.za
