Vision Group Urban TV goes on air this week
Aug 16, 2011
EFFECTIVE this week, Vision Group will start testing signals of its new English television (TV) station called Urban TV, as the group continues to expand its broadcast empire.
By Chris Kiwawulo
EFFECTIVE this week, Vision Group will start testing signals of its new English television (TV) station called Urban TV, as the group continues to expand its broadcast empire.
Urban TV will be viewed on Channel 43, said the group’s head of TV, Mark Walungama.
Walungama explained that the signal-testing period will be entertainment-driven and will last for two months before normal programming starts.
“We are entering into the English TV market after a successful entry into the market with Bukedde TV, our local Luganda television station,†Walungama pointed out during an interview on Friday.
Bukedde TV went on air in November, 2009.
He revealed that Urban TV will mainly target Kampala’s English audience within the age bracket of 18-35 years.
Walungama added that Urban TV will be a station for tomorrow, highlighting the socio-economic trends that the urban audience deals with on a day-to-day basis.
“It will have all the ingredients that make one’s viewing informative and entertaining through providing the best in sports, drama, comedy series, talk-shows, news and lifestyle. It will also be highly interactive with its audience.â€
Susan Nsibirwa, the head of marketing at Vision Group, said the decision to start Urban TV followed a survey which established that there was a gap that had not been effectively served.
Vision chief Robert Kabushenga said the decision to enter the English television market has been driven by the company’s vision that is driving it ‘to be a globally respected African media power house that advances society’.
“We shall use the platform for stories that give Ugandans hope in their future and belief in themselves. We shall elevate Ugandan successes so that others may draw inspiration,†he said.
“We shall deal with our failures so that we do not repeat our mistakes. We shall project the Ugandan society as it is, not the way others may want it perceived. Ugandans will be shown as they are without making them a laughing stock,†he added.
Kenneth Kazooba, Vision Group’s senior advertising manager in charge of electronic media, said the introduction of the TV will benefit advertisers four-fold.
“Having sorted out the needs of our vernacular TV audience (Luganda on Bukedde TV) and Runyakitara on TV West), we can now ably deliver a more focused English TV audience better than any other station,†Kazooba said.
He said a more focused and defined audience means Vision Group advertisers would have a more effective campaign with more specific and accurate results.
More to that, Kazooba said advertisers will finally have the missing block in their English audience and will have the liberty to enjoy the benefit of a variety of audiences.
He elaborated that the consolidation started with the English Newspapers and Magazines, went to digital and radio, and now it is the TVs’ turn.
“Our advertisers will now get the convenience of an all-round one stop centre for all the English audience in the name of Vision Group.â€
Kazooba added that where advertisers would like a variety of audiences, they will still have the other advantage in Vision Group’s ability to deliver the three different TV audiences from one supplier.
The TVs are; Urban TV for the English audience, Bukedde TV for the Luganda audience and TV West for the Runyakitara audience.
Kazooba stated that the advantages from the well managed economies of scale will certainly trickle down to Vision Group’s advertisers.
“We also want to create a new market like we have successfully done with Bukedde TV. This is just another chapter in what has been a very successful story for our local community television station (Bukedde TV),†she pointed out.
Urban TV, Nsibirwa elaborated, will focus on media needs of the ordinary people; reflect their aspirations, challenges and moments of laughter.
Kabushenga said leaders will be held accountable so that society is better off.
“We shall not do this to ridicule people or simply provide entertainment. We want to see our country build on the tremendous achievements of our recent history.â€
EFFECTIVE this week, Vision Group will start testing signals of its new English television (TV) station called Urban TV, as the group continues to expand its broadcast empire.
Urban TV will be viewed on Channel 43, said the group’s head of TV, Mark Walungama.
Walungama explained that the signal-testing period will be entertainment-driven and will last for two months before normal programming starts.
“We are entering into the English TV market after a successful entry into the market with Bukedde TV, our local Luganda television station,†Walungama pointed out during an interview on Friday.
Bukedde TV went on air in November, 2009.
He revealed that Urban TV will mainly target Kampala’s English audience within the age bracket of 18-35 years.
Walungama added that Urban TV will be a station for tomorrow, highlighting the socio-economic trends that the urban audience deals with on a day-to-day basis.
“It will have all the ingredients that make one’s viewing informative and entertaining through providing the best in sports, drama, comedy series, talk-shows, news and lifestyle. It will also be highly interactive with its audience.â€
Susan Nsibirwa, the head of marketing at Vision Group, said the decision to start Urban TV followed a survey which established that there was a gap that had not been effectively served.
Vision chief Robert Kabushenga said the decision to enter the English television market has been driven by the company’s vision that is driving it ‘to be a globally respected African media power house that advances society’.
“We shall use the platform for stories that give Ugandans hope in their future and belief in themselves. We shall elevate Ugandan successes so that others may draw inspiration,†he said.
“We shall deal with our failures so that we do not repeat our mistakes. We shall project the Ugandan society as it is, not the way others may want it perceived. Ugandans will be shown as they are without making them a laughing stock,†he added.
Kenneth Kazooba, Vision Group’s senior advertising manager in charge of electronic media, said the introduction of the TV will benefit advertisers four-fold.
“Having sorted out the needs of our vernacular TV audience (Luganda on Bukedde TV) and Runyakitara on TV West), we can now ably deliver a more focused English TV audience better than any other station,†Kazooba said.
He said a more focused and defined audience means Vision Group advertisers would have a more effective campaign with more specific and accurate results.
More to that, Kazooba said advertisers will finally have the missing block in their English audience and will have the liberty to enjoy the benefit of a variety of audiences.
He elaborated that the consolidation started with the English Newspapers and Magazines, went to digital and radio, and now it is the TVs’ turn.
“Our advertisers will now get the convenience of an all-round one stop centre for all the English audience in the name of Vision Group.â€
Kazooba added that where advertisers would like a variety of audiences, they will still have the other advantage in Vision Group’s ability to deliver the three different TV audiences from one supplier.
The TVs are; Urban TV for the English audience, Bukedde TV for the Luganda audience and TV West for the Runyakitara audience.
Kazooba stated that the advantages from the well managed economies of scale will certainly trickle down to Vision Group’s advertisers.
“We also want to create a new market like we have successfully done with Bukedde TV. This is just another chapter in what has been a very successful story for our local community television station (Bukedde TV),†she pointed out.
Urban TV, Nsibirwa elaborated, will focus on media needs of the ordinary people; reflect their aspirations, challenges and moments of laughter.
Kabushenga said leaders will be held accountable so that society is better off.
“We shall not do this to ridicule people or simply provide entertainment. We want to see our country build on the tremendous achievements of our recent history.â€