TO be honest, analysing local television content in the recent past weeks has been hell with the current massive load-shedding reducing primetime viewing hours to minutes, if not seconds!

Nevertheless, despite the few minutes of viewing, this platform has tried its level best to bring out noteworthy observations on the international and local television front.

Now, last week, many viewers missed one of the best packaged documentaries by one veteran reporter Lackson Nthani on the African Union (AU) summit attended by President Edgar Lungu in South Africa.

It was a very informative and professionally packaged report which one would strongly recommend that ZNBC repeats for the sake of those who might have missed it due to the common song of load-shedding.

From the way Lackson packaged the documentary to its narration, one could easily see that he really took time noting key points and footage of great relevance to the viewer.

I would repeat the plea to ZNBC management to consider repeating the documentary if possible after the 19:00 hours news.

Compressing Lackson’s package, in a single word, one would simply say: Excellent! Those fortunate to have had power at the time and tuned to ZNBC would agree.

For some time now, less censorship has been effected at the national broadcaster, ZNBC, not that it has been on top of things but purely because of circumstances like the one attributed to in the lead.

Nevertheless, this platform has for a long time observed with dismay the wrong clips during main news bulletins.

It is clear that the Video Tape Recorder (VTR) personnel create an impression of laziness or prefer not to do their job well, thereby embarrassing an innocent newscaster who has to shoulder the blame before an ordinary viewer’s eye.

It seems the fact that newscasters would always apologise to viewers for wrong news clips would likely put VTR personnel at bay and conclude: “After all, they will apologise…” Rarely would one watch the news from start to finish without seeing a flaw.

Let me refer to one particular incident that immediately comes to mind whenever I think of television clip flaw incidences.

There was a time during the 19:00 hour’s main news on ZNBC anchored by Herbert Mutabi and his colleague whose name this writer cannot remember.

As usual, the VTR ended up playing a Rusangu University advert on a Cavendish University-sponsored education news segment.

One could see the apprehension on Herbert’s face as he apologised after the advert was cut and although newscasters may have their own flaws, adding the agony of apologising for wrong clips worsens it.

Now away from the local front, last week’s announcement by MultiChoice Zambia public relations manager Mwiika Malindima that there would be no Big Brother Africa show this year has not been received well by most fans.

Most of them who could not make it last year because of age restriction and were geared for this year, feel a huge misfortune has befallen them.

One lady, who only identified her self as Cecilia, wrote: “Hi Sam, what is happening with MultiChoice kanshi? At first, they brought the so-called Big Brother Mzansi, now they are saying there will be no Big Brother, why did they start such an addictive reality show if they cannot sustain it? Typical African mindset…I am not happy… “

Another enthusiast Bertha Zulu from Kitwe writes, “Hi Sam, kindly find out for me the reason why the Big Brother reality show won’t be aired this year. Is it only this year or it’s the end of the darling reality show?

The two mails on Big Brother Africa are the only ones this platform could accommodate for the week due to limited space.

Still, in the mailbox, though, the issue of Zambezi Magic has continued to resurface every time you would want to put it aside. This is a sign that its a loved channel and people are watching.

One Leonard Koloko wrote: “Zambezi Magic Channel is certainly a great initiative that has raised hopes for Zambian viewers desiring to see Zambian content on DStv.

While it is a drawback to see the channel being a spillover of some South African channels in terms of soaps such as ‘Muvhango’ and ‘Generations’ which the channel has targeted to showcase the entire Southern region.

The challenge squarely lies on other countries to rise to the occasion and feed MultiChoice Zambia with their home brewed content.

Unfortunately for Zambia, film and television has in the past years been struggling to find its feet and winning the confidence of a highly demanding audience.

Evidence stems from the short-lived local soaps on national television ZNBC. For instance, we’ve had promising products like ‘Reflections’, ‘Loose Ends’, ‘Kabanana’, ‘Winds’, ‘What a Life’ etc which all died natural deaths.

We seem to lack the spirit of appreciating each other’s works and expertly critiquing them for the betterment of art.

Nollywood has greatly awed us but we forget that Nigerians started from somewhere. Basically they started by developing their local stage theatre and setting up training schools in the faculty.

The catch is that national associations like the National Theatre Arts Association of Zambia NATAAZ and National Association of Media Arts (NAMA) should work hand in hand with MultiChoice, ZNBC and MUVI.

There are great stories out there to be shared on the channel.

Thank you Mr Koloko for an observation similar to that of one veteran broadcast journalist and media consultant Ben Kangwa in the previous edition.

I can only hope that Zambians with great film ideas can see this fresh lucrative opportunity on Zambezi Magic.

We end this week.

Text 0955362470, or email samphiri77@gmail.com for contributions and comments.