The ManicaPost
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
Following its official launch at a glitzy ceremony last week, local news and entertainment television channel, Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) Prime went live on DStv Channel 294 on Tuesday.
ZTN Prime is part of multi-media giant Zimpapers and will be accessed by customers on DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Access and Lite bouquet.
The television station’s programming ranges from news and current affairs, to drama, sport, exclusive interviews and so many more.
ZTN Prime general manager Ms Nomsa Nkala said the channel offers purely Zimbabwean content with a fresher outlook.
“People should look forward to purely Zimbabwean content with a fresher outlook, Zimbabwean stories that are told differently, stories that are different but relatable globally.
So this is the approach that we have taken as ZTN Prime,” she said.
Mrs Nkala said some of the exciting highlights to look forward to on ZTN Prime include local sports and shows — Days at Ekasi and series Soul Mate.
“ZTN Prime is home to up-to-the-minute results from across Zimbabwe’s sports arena – covering live boxing, top-tier rugby matches, big rivalries in school sport, and live Premier Soccer League action on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The channel will also go wild with top sports personalities on Happy Hour as their lives intertwine with musical artistes live in the studio.”
She said sports fanatics should look forward to The Couch, a television ride laced with unfiltered spirited commentary on topical football issues, while Ultimate Sports Show collates trending stories from various sports genres.
She said viewers should be able to watch ZTN Prime from wherever they are in the world and still relate to the content.
Speaking during the official launch last week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said the coming in of ZTN Prime is a testimony of the Second Republic’s commitment to reforms and opening up the airwaves.
“This is a phenomenal trademark of the Second Republic. This constitutional benchmark of this dispensation also makes Zimbabwe an optimal destination for capital.
“Therefore, I task ZTN to tell the authentic Zimbabwean story. ZTN is there to chart a new chapter of digital broadcasting. In the domain of broadcasting, it will strive to salivate the hunger for content for a nation which is blessed with so much talent.”
The minister said the launch of ZTN Prime offers more opportunities to those in the arts industry.
“What it means is that content creators will then have a chance to really do a good job and to be rewarded well for the job they do. This is a big achievement. Zimbabweans at home and abroad will have a chance to show their talent to the global world,” she said.
Zimpapers Group chief executive officer Mr Pikirayi Deketeke said the launch of the channel was a culmination of years of hard work and was a response to changes in preferences by audiences from purely print formats to other formats like video, radio and digital.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe general manager, Mr Norman Raisbeck said the new channel introduces an exciting era in Zimbabwe’s television space given the resounding reception that ZTN products have already received on the market.
“This is an exciting development that further extends the reach of Zimbabwean content on the DStv platform,” he said.
Mr Raisbeck said as Africa’s leading entertainment platform, MultiChoice, continuously seeks opportunities to provide local and inspired content to Zimbabwean audiences. − The Chronicle/The Herald.
