Mibawa TV for promotion of local content

Newly-launched television station Mibawa, a subsidiary of Mibawa Limited, has pledged an extensive use of local content to drum up support for the country’s thriving industries.

Mibawa television is a non-partisan television which is currently on GOTv channel 832 and MDBNL channel 124. The programming of the television starts December 1.

Speaking during the official launch of the new television station on Friday, chief executive officer (CEO) of Mibawa Limited John Nthakomwa described Mibawa TV as an opportunity to raise the bar of Malawi content.

“We are set to provide tight local content to promote and expose our local industries.  Basically, our programmes will target messages that can help to build as well as change the mindset of young people while also providing them with quality entertainment,” he said Nthakomwa.

Nthakomwa added that Mibawa TV is a local brand which will strive to provide local content.

“I must admit that the television industry is a very challenging market to venture into, but it is the future and we are going to shape the industry by being different. We will be creating unique and innovative products that will make us stand out from the rest,” he said.

As one of the country’s private television content developer, Mibawa has been providing content such as Mwachande and Ching’aning’ani to the State-controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) TV.

Asked whether the opening of Mibawa TV marks the end of the service, Nthakomwa said Mibawa studios plan to continue its relationship with the national broadcaster, MBC, as a content provider with regards to the content that they supply them.

Lack of content is one of the major challenges that most television stations encounter and impacts negatively on their viewership as most programmes are repeated unnecessarily.

Mibawa Limited’s Creative Director Wellington Kuntaja, however, said Mibawa TV has a buffer of content.

“Most television stations in Malawi lack good content because information is expensive to gather. But Mibawa TV is a huge investment which is built on a solid foundation that was part of Mibawa Limited’s long-term plan.

“We have massively invested in content development and most definitely we are going to be a strong competitor in the game,” said Kuntaja, adding they are also into partnership with other local content providers such as Dreams Media.

Soaps, interviews with artists, music and news briefs will be some of the programmes that Mibawa TV will be beaming.