The Sunday News
Rumbidzai Mbewe, Sunday Life Correspondent
FILMMAKERS and television producers recently met MultiChoice executives in a first-time workshop aimed at setting in motion an increased level of Zimbabwean content on the DStv platform in future.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe publicity and public relations manager Liz Dziva, said the summit was attended by more than 200 people from within the Zimbabwean film and media community.
“The aim was to look at the greater use of Zimbabwean-produced material on DStv, and there was a commitment from all parties attending to work more closely and to eliminate obstacles to progress,” she said.
The meeting took place at two local content “summits” designed to create dialogue and set up a means by which Zimbabwe will gain greater visibility on various channels on DStv. The first was held in Harare, while the second took place in Bulawayo, and at both events there was constructive dialogue as well as frank and open discussion on problems encountered in the past.
Liz said a lot was talked about during the meeting, some of the issues being the challenges that are faced by MultiChoice in facilitating exposure of local productions.
She said they agreed that they will put more effort in ensuring that Zimbabwean content quality was taken to greater heights.
“Local filmmakers were critical of the amount of Zimbabwean material being used and the MultiChoice executives spoke of challenges faced in facilitating such exposure. What was agreed is that all relevant and necessary steps would be taken to get more content onto DStv, and the follow-up will be on greater levels,” she said.
The objectives of the two summits were to create opportunities for debate, discussion and determining problems and their causes. Information was given to all participants on how best to create suitable content, market it and get it ready for DStv showcasing.
During the summit, it was also announced that up to 10 Zimbabwean TV programmes and films have been commissioned or acquired for broadcast on Zambezi Magic channel, which was established two years ago to provide a platform for content from Southern Africa.
This was described as just the start of what could be one of the best showcase openings for the Zimbabwean film and television community.
“For our part, we saw the problems of the past as a learning curve and we felt that what must now be focused on is the means by which a win-win situation can be created. This will result in Zimbabwean content increasing significantly, thus raising the standard and frequency of work from within the country, including films, TV series, individual programmes and non-fiction content,” she said.
Liz said although there is still a lot of work that has to be done in terms of content production, the summit reflected new and more positive atmosphere in Zimbabwe.
“The future looks promising for Zimbabwean content in the overall DStv context. Among the future co-operation and collaboration initiatives will be training, coaching, greater liaison and increased interest in Zimbabwean productions of all kinds.”
