Kenya television network popularly known as KTN seems to have gone on panic mode after losing their top anchors Swaleh Mdoe, Catherine Kasavuli and Louis Otieno to the relatively young Citizen television.
KTN is now the home of blunders as the station makes major changes in its news production and presentation which has caused laughable mistakes that were glaring in its bulletin last night, including using wrong footage to sound going off and even echoes as they struggled through the maiden new format CNN-like live news edition.
It is worth noting that all these changes started when the top anchors left the station and many saw it as a necessary step to ensure that the anchors move was not quickly followed by the viewers hence the new presentation which seems to have heavily “borrowed” from the cable news network, CNN way of news presentation.
However, Kenya's television viewers are a sophisticated lot who will not switch stations just because their favorite anchor has. Most viewers stick to stations because of their form of presentation and most of all, the content of their news items.
Citizen has never been popular with the majority as it is considered a government-friendly station in that its owner, SK Macharia is a bossom buddy to president Kibaki. The station was extensively used as a propaganda tool for the government during the referendum campaigns along with the national broadcaster, Kenya broadcasting corporation.
KTN should not panic but instead maintain their boldness in news coverage and they will realize that there is much more to a station than popular anchors. On the contrary, they can nurture those they have been left with as there is a lot of potential and talent in them.
Beatrice Marshal, Anne Ngugi, Ahmed Darwesh and Lilian Muli are among the most promising anchors in the country and have the ability to maintain the standards at KTN. In this bloggers view, KTN should never have panicked from the start, and should have just continued doing what you have always been doing and everything would have been fine.
Introducing the new format need not have been hurried to coincide with Catherine Kasavuli and Loius Otieno’s maiden appearance on Citizen yesterday. I didn’t catch it, did any of the readers, and if so, what do they think?
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I agree with you, KTN should not have panicked at all-they goofed jana, but they are still leading the pack. I think yesterday's sight of youthful presenters was refreshing.
ReplyDeleteI think KTN should panic. Panic is not necessarily a bad sign, just a cautious approach to business. It is obvious that there is a possibility of an increased viewership of Citizen news, simply because of the 'hype' the mass exodus of anchors has created. This is to say that KTN might suffer due to the erosion of viewership caused by the relatively new entrant.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is not a definate situation. There are other factors in play. As it was aptly put, "Citizen has never been popular with the majority as it is considered a government-friendly station..."
KTN should strive to retain its technical staff, the people behind the screen, the innovators who enable a fresh approach to news delivery. If these people are poached, then KTN will be in real trouble.
to the extend that someone watches certain station for comprehensive and full coverage, i do agree with you that ktn has gotten almost to a point of wholesome refinement from its anchors to reporters and even equipment something citizen has alot to do on.
ReplyDeleteinferebly then the moving out of the top anchors does not necessarily mean a collapse of ktn though they need to put an extra effort to get back to itself. on the other hand even with the top cream presenters at citizen with the unrefined reporters simply means no success. an overhaul is necessary to get the anchors backed up by reasonable quality reporting.
I missed both the Citizen and KTN news yesterday. Don't think I missed much. As you've mentioned I doubt there are people who move channels just because of anchors.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which I spotted Tony Gachukia reporting sports news on KBC. Anyone panicking?
Anyone would only worry if the lost news anchors were involved in news presentation and editing as this could be a key plank in changing loyalties. There are droves who watch KBC today who never did so a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteCitizen is not just about the news anchors, remember it is a business. The decision to hire Waruru was driven by commercial considerations and you must see the poaching of KTN anchors as being built around such a scheme. Remember that government support is not a bad thing as long as it is objective support. You could say the same for opposition support which regretably you see with our mainstream media!
And can i hasve you emai address or clfn number Mumbi?
ReplyDeletePhil Says,
ReplyDeleteAfter watching both the tuesday and wednesday prime time news, I have a hunch someone doing serious sabotage to KTN. Why so many technical problems, including muting sound, when an interview is on going? This is so much unlike KTN. The battle of the airwaves is getting vicious and for now we can only wait and see.
The problem is the greed that the boys running the Standard and KTN have. Overnight, they have seen what alot of money can do and tey are not considering the welfar and the longer life of the group.
ReplyDeleteWhy let Ian Fernades leave. Any why should Tom Mshindi follow? Greed and mismanagement!
I don't think panicking is the way to go. Maybe just up their game...business is all about staying ahead of the competition. I got to watch Kasavuli and Swaleh...it's the same old. I think that night's ratings was the highest Citizen has and will ever get....
ReplyDeleteThe one thing Citizen used to have one up on the other stations in terms of news was coverage. These guys used to bring news from the bundus of kenya but the timings were just wrong....citizen news vs prison break...go figure! And this isn't being done anymore. Louis' interviews mid news is an interesting twist though. But don't understimate citizen....It is an ultimate sin to understimate the competition
It's indeed amazing to see that Money does indeed talk, all these Top News Anchor's - Kasavuli, louis Otino, Ephy Hunja, etc changed camped all because of money.
ReplyDeletehaving pached the top names in the local TV, Citizen has earned the title of being the "Al-jazeera of Kenya" which also poached top anchors and reporters from CNN,BBC,SKY etc
All in all I forsee Citizen TV becoming popular despite what some critics have said.
Under the current leadership of highly experienced Mr Wachira Waruru , who is reputed to have turned KBC round , I can for sure see the station.
what he did to KBC is difinitely what he will do to Citizen TV, if not better.
Already Citizen TV is popular for relaying footbal matches via LIM a UK based firm.
a deal that is said to be costing citzen about 1 Million every month.
And to the youth and the young at heart, Citizen now screens a popular video Mix show called Extreme Videos ( localy produced )
Anyway I wish Citizen the best,
This move from KTN is typical of the Standard Group. Some time back, David Makali was invited to work at the Standard. He came with his group of talented writers and editors.
ReplyDeleteKwendo Opanga had always been uncomfortable with Makali since Makali was running the Expression Today.
At that time, Makali wrote about the YK92 dossier that led to Kwendo leading the Nation. He never liked him and one day was heard saying that Makali thinks he was going to rise past the Sunday Editor's post.
Kwendo even withdrew from contributing in the Sunday Standard, to kill Makali's hopes of getting the better of the Sunday Nation.
Makali, later led a walk-out, that has left the Sunday Standard in a bad shape since.
The walk-out from KTN is not different Kwendo head the standard abd KTN editorials. MY people and My men still exists.
He is at the same time Waruru Wachira's buddy. they worked together at Weekly Review
As The Citizen gives good news presentation with shallow, if skewed, news and KTN stutters in its presentation, NTV is getting it very well on both fronts, style and content. Nobody now beats Tom Mboya while Julie Gichuru is in a class of her own. Basset has really improved but why couldn't they have Norman Mudubi combining with Julie. And they are ahead of the pack. With reporters in Uganda and Joe Ageyo covering the Nigerian election with daily reports, NTV is beating them all...
ReplyDeleteIt is truly the neares t Kenya is getting all the news
Frank espositomondi
ktn rocks>mukwende huko na citizen na ntv
ReplyDeleteHey , you guys disappointed me coz the presenter auditions were not all that fare. I was number 906 and i missed the auditions on monday at 2. told they already locked up at 12. I am quite good and really it was not fare.
ReplyDeleteKTN remains to be the topmost at all times.Lilian Muli,Njoroge Mwaura,Esther Arunga and Daropwesh will still keep us glued......MESH
ReplyDelete