adminThe Herald, 2 June 2003
STUDIO 263 has proved to be one of the most popular programmes on television.
The soap, which is screened on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7pm, seems to be gaining popularity with each screening.
The script which was at first dull and uninteresting, has become one of the best soaps that keep viewers glued to their screens.
Interesting episodes are unfolding in Studio 263 with Vimbai (Anne Nhira) getting engaged to her boyfriend James, but fortunately or unfortunately she has also caught the attention of another person.
You guessed it — it is Tom Mbambo (Ben Mahaka) a wealthy man who does anything to win Vimbai’s heart.
Mbambo even hires gangsters who attempt to kill James so that he could have Vimbai to himself. James survives the incident and his murder attempt is under police investigation.
Other promising soaps are “Kabanana” followed by “Fragments” produced by King Dube.
The “Mai Chisamba Show” hosted by Rebecca Chisamba is perhaps second in popularity after “Studio 263”.
The talk show tackles all the issues faced in Zimbabwean homes.
On the music scene, there is “Musical Request” presented by Chunky Phiri, “Mutinhimira Wemimhanzi/Ezomgido” and “Music Mix”, which of late, did not have a consistent presenter.
“Musical Requests” and “Music Mix” play a mixed bag of music from local to international hits and adhere to 75 percent local content stipulated by the Broadcasting Services Act.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
The secret to long-running TV dramas is a dedicated production and script writing team that is innovative and has vision. They must see how the story line and its actors develop with each coming season.
Feedback from the audience and sponsors is an added advantage.
A well-managed entertainment industry is big business. In the United States, most of the millionaires are from Hollywood and as a cultural group, they are an important constituency that determines policy direction.
A sustainable budget ensures that a drama series can run for many seasons and years. In some countries soap operas like “Studio 263” would still be running with old and new actors.
The “Mai Chisamba Show” has withstood the test of time. Its history will show that when it was under the national broadcaster’s ambit, its focus was gender parity. Following its move to the Chisamba Production Company, the hostess has remained the same, but she now tackles diverse issues of national interest, the latest being the National Development Strategy 1, Covid-19, gender-based violence, women and youths in mining, etc.
The entertainment industry is also very competitive. Information and communication technology has given room to thousands of upcoming drama kings and queens, with a huge following. Platforms such as Facebook and/or Instagram have given opportunities to new talent.
To remain relevant, television broadcasters are migrating to digital platforms where the majority of viewers are.
Despite the many years on air, even “Mutinhimira Wemimhanzi/Ezomgido “now has many competitors. Competition is good, but it is how you tackle it that is important. The solution is innovation.
Online Reporter