thought that believe TV is fast losing its role; that of entertainment and education. They argue that most of the local programs are lacking in content to be considered neither entertaining nor informative. When the Ministry of Communication and information first directed that local TV stations mandatorily air at least 70 percent of the local programs, Citizen TV in a swift move adopted the idea and it was only a matter of time before it released numerous shows to the overwhelming number of audience it commanded. At the same time, the sleepy state owned KBC also offered plenty of local programs although it could not be able to match Citizen’s shows. Citizen TV took the risk and pumped a lot of cash in ensuring that it treated its audience to the best rated local programs.This at a time when many Kenyans were
This new move would supplement previous efforts to boost the production of local content and stamp acceptance.Last year, the Ministry of Information formed a task force bringing together animators, movie makers, graphic designers, sketch artists, gamers and musicians to chart the way forward for the sector. Citizens move prouved that Kenyans had embraced local programs, that explains why the rest of the TV stations rushed in shopping for the same but with full disregard to quality and quantity.
Quality or quantity?
Generally, the purpose of television is to disseminate information impartially, provide wholesome entertainment, as well as the socio-cultural purpose which would work to bring unity as a state. Granted, Kenyan television tries it’s very best to achieve the first two but what about the latter? As much as some of the local programs are packaged to the best of standards, a good percentage of what floods our screens in the name of local programs are completely low in quality. Critics further argue that it requires a twoway traffic for the situation to be salvaged ;if the local producers and TV owners would mean some respect to their audience and air quality as opposed to quantity without audience. TV stations should move quick to maintain the quality of local programs by being ready to spend a lot of money in shopping for the programs while at the same time the producers must have patience and the technical knowhow required to come up with the quality that is screen worthy. Despite the fact that most of our local content are not up to the internationally acceptable standards, there are TV networks that are actually putting an effort towards achieving that niche by airing shows such as Beba beba,Mali, Lies that Bind,Machachari,Tahidi High ,The Classmates,Papa Shirandula, and Mheshimiwa among other credible shows. Looking at the generation that will
TV stations should move quickly to maintain the quality of local programs
deeply engrossed in foreign programs and in a twist of events won the hearts of viewers. The 40 per cent local content rule came into force in 2009 but the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has not been able to effect it due to cases filed by Wezan Radio Station barring the regulator from implementing the rules. A study commissioned by the Kenya Film Corporation in 2007 indicated that the film industry has the potential for earning the country up to Ksh60 billion annually and generate thousands of new jobs for Kenyans.The film industry added more than three per cent to the gross domestic product between 2009 and 2010.
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