I KNOW that many in the television broadcasting industry are at a glance at today’s edition of the TV review curious of the content.
Although today I meant not to critique anyone or institution, on a second thought I felt otherwise  as by not doing so, would be injustice to the column whose main spicing ingredient remains in the soup of critic.
For example, it would not just be in order not to mention an interesting incident where one proficient newscaster forgot to mention her own name throughout the news bulletin.
Not to take anything away from her flawless reading abilities, I, however, continued asking myself as to why she did not mention her name to the viewers.
To be clear-cut, it was two weeks ago on a weekend, uninterruptedly watching the ZNBC midday news when I saw this newscaster get straight into the headlines all the way to the news in detail and signing off without introducing herself!
I watched the news up to the very end hoping she would at least mention her name at the end but she just did not.
I wondered how such a good caster looking so lively could forget to introduce herself before her audience until I coincidentally met her physically the following day.
Who does that? Anyway, it was not surprising after learning that she was a native Bemba lady Mutale Bwalya.
Imagine it took a coincidental physical meeting with this lady to learn her names which both sound like surnames.
Professionally, it is required of a newscaster to at least  introduce herself or himself three times in the news bulleting; at the very beginning of the news, after the headlines and when signing off.
Mutale my dear, I hope the habit of overlooking the professional point of introducing yourself is not as tenacious as your TV station’s unwavering mind to positive change.
For instance, I have talked about hair, loud makeup, heavy neck ornaments and the half-backed Sunday Interview.
What I have noticed is the total opposite of what one is expected of professionally, especially the female casters. Others told me that change of hair goes with the season.
Very funny and excuse indeed… so when they were in high schools, season could not affect them but only affects them now?
The Sunday Interview is a very interesting programme but it still boggles my mind why it has continues to be transmitted as a live programme without the viewers’ participation even after major criticism.
Sometimes it makes one feel as though Masuzyo Ndhlovu’s team is simply dead set against positive and professional change that would satisfy their viewers.
As long as it is well with them, the viewer who in this case is yearning to participate in the live interview show does not matter. I will ask again, Why have the Sunday interview live if you can’t add the ingredients like viewer participation in the programme?
Now before delving into today’s main topic, let me share some concerns from religious viewers of one popular local channel Muvi TV.
One viewer who preferred anonymity personally explained how she had done away with Muvi TV because of the manner in which they abruptly terminate their main news and The Assignment programme anchored by Costar Mwansa.
She says Muvi TV only shows a snippet of the aforementioned progammes in a more of an attraction manner and only shows the rest to fully subscribed clientele.
According to her, there was nothing wrong with the channel reserving its content only for its fully paid up clients but the abrupt manner in which the termination was done is what was annoying.
“At first, I thought there was break in transmission, but I was disappointed to see that the news was permanently terminated without any courtesy of the transmission team to informing us the viewers of the changes!”
She continued to say:  “Surely is that a way of forcing me to buy their decoder? I have plenty of options unfortunately, they have lost me” she had to say.
Anyway that’s not very good news especially that we are in the time of promoting our local brands and content.
Nevertheless, I took time to watch the channel but what I discovered was that the Muvi had already migrated and had started transmitting in digital meaning for viewers to get their content; they need to have special Muvi TV decoder and smartcard.
I agree with this viewer though on the point of Muvi TV announcing their changes to people clearly to the viewer, maybe the way ZNBC has done.
What is good, though, is that Muvi TV, has gone digital in accordance with the declaration on digital migration. Muvi is one of Zambia’s private pay TV that has fared well since its inception.
The digital transition in broadcasting will improve both the quantity and quality of what is available on TV and increase the number of people who will be able to watch it.
What is the digital transition in broadcasting?
The digital transition in broadcasting that was officially announced in Zambia by the Government‘s Chief spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili is a global process involving the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting signals.
There are a number of countries who have completed this transition and many more who are making the transition with Zambia on its first phase.
The transition was agreed by the International Telecommunication Union’s Regional Telecommunication Conference (RRC) where African countries committed to migrating to digital broadcasting by June 2015.
The switching to digital broadcasting, which will be done in three passes will be officially launched by President Edgar Lungu at Mass Media Complex of June 22, means viewers will get improved picture, more channels and good sound quality.
In future, broadcasters will be able to offer High Definition (HD) programmes to their viewers. This is a remarkable development for Africa and the rest of the world.
Get yourself a set-top box or a decoder at only K130 today and enjoy the world of digital television broadcasting!
Lets go digital!
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