MultiChoice commits Sh. 0.5 Billion towards local production

MultiChoice and Mnet on Tuesday announced that it will invest half a billion shilling in 14 local shows to be produced this and next year.

In a forum that brought together over 200 local producers, content developers and students to Investing in East Africa local content industries to spur economic growth, GOtv Kenya General Manager, Simon Kariithi reiterated the commitment by DStv and GOtv to invest in local productions.

“MultiChoice is rooted in countries where our customers live. That means we are proud of the contribution we are making in our local communities. As a leading funder of local productions in Kenya, we are proud to announce a half a billion shillings investment in 14 original local shows to be produced and broadcast in the year 2017-2018, and will air exclusively on Maisha Magic East which is the only show in the country with 100 percent local content.”

summit, which took place at Local Production Limited studios in Nairobi, also featured two of Bollywood’s renowned and award-winning producers Neelima Bajpal and Shyamashis Bhattacharia, Directors at Shakuntalam Telefilms in India.

The Bollywood producers gave presentations that focused on the drivers of success of the Indian Telenovela productions including budgeting for Bollywood films, script writing and casting.

Shyamashis Bhattacharia, while speaking at the summit, acknowledged the role that TV plays in growing the Bollywood film industry. He said, “TV appearances are just as popular as Film appearances in India. However, most revenue is generated from TV and not film as most advertising and product placement happens on TV. Television gives film actors an opportunity to make guest appearances to promote their films, and this is the key that propels the Bollywood film industry as it gives the cast members more popularity. This has worked in Hollywood and would also work well with local Kenyan film productions.”

Neelima Bajpal also a Bollywood script writer said, “It takes patience and a professional team to put together a good film. Sometimes, Bollywood writers can go for up to 5 months without payment from the broadcasters. This should not discourage producers as Indian writers make more money than any other personnel involved in creating TV content. This is an indication that film is still a multimillion dollar business if done well.

The summit was organized in an effort to increase local production skills following a directive by the Communication Authority in 2014 to increase local content programming from 40% to 68% by 2018.