Promoting Local Productions and Artists on Local Television
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Date
2009
Authors
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
The local Kenyan TV industry traces its history back to 1959 when KBC was
established by the British colonial administration. This Kenyan TV industry was modeled on
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). This being the case, it bore a striking resemblance
of their programming and presenting of news to BBC. In June 1964, after independence the
corporation was renamed Voice of Kenya (VOK). This TV became a government's mouth
piece that provided information, education and entertainment. The station dominated the TV
industry between 1964 and 1990, a period when TV and radio were owned and controlled by
the state. During this period, there was a politically inspired initiative for increased local
content and a sharper nationalistic outlook. However, only 40% of the 70% targeted local
programmes content was able to be achieved by mid 1980.1
The liberalization of the airwaves in 1990 saw the entrance of Kenya Television
Network (KTN) a privately owned media house into the market. This station was licensed in
March 1990. About 75% of KTN's programmes were foreign. It paved way to the entrance of
other private TV stations among them included, Nation TV, Citizen TV, STV and Family.2
The latest entrant in the market is K24 which is about one year old.
Interestingly, most of the local Kenyan TV stations air a higher percentage of foreign
programmes than local content programmes. This leads one to ask, is the Kenyan TV
broadcasting industry really Kenyan? If not, what can be done to make it Kenyan?
This paper wishes to highlight the influx of foreign programmes in the Kenyan TV
industry. It underlines the effects of foreign programmes on the audience and the local TV
industry. It further promotes production and airing of local programmes. In doing so, it is
optimistic that this will not only transform the Kenyan TV industry but also improve the lives
of the citizens.
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Keywords
Television Programme, Local television