INDEPENDENT commercial television station, 3Ktv, will score another milestone tomorrow when it broadcasts live Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s 2024 National Budget.
This is the first time that the history-making station, owned by fast-growing multi-media group, Jester Media Services (JMS), will televise the auspicious event, in partnership with the National Assembly.
Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, 3Ktv station manager, Abigail Mvududu, was rapturous about the development — noting that this was “another feather in the cap for the 21-months-old station”.
“It is very pleasing to note that we continue to take giant steps in this competitive industry. “Viewers of the station will remember that this is not the first live broadcast that we have been entrusted with by key stakeholders and business partners.
“All this is a massive vote of confidence in 3Ktv, and we look forward to doing even more of these important mega events going forward,” Mvududu said. “Indeed, the station has successfully broadcast live the OK Grand Challenge.
“Other significant live broadcasts have included the Women University in Africa graduation ceremonies and church services. “Also important to note is the fact that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration was covered live and very successfully so by the station,” Mvududu said.
In doing all this, the family-viewing national channel continues to underline its well-earned status as Zimbabwe’s most watched television station on satellite. Speaking to the Daily News recently, JMS Managing Director for the Group’s Broadcasting Division, Zweli Sibanda, said 3Ktv remained well ahead of all its projected viewership and advertising figures.
“3Ktv is enjoying phenomenal support from Zimbabweans, which is reflected in the latest Zimbabwe All Media & Products Survey (ZAMPS) report and the station’s all-round solid performance. “The support that we are getting from both viewers and our business partners continues to surpass all our initial projections.
“Not surprisingly, as a result, we are seeing more and more corporates and other key partners coming on board to showcase their products and services on the station,” Sibanda said then.
According to the latest report of the non-partisan ZAMPS, the privately-owned station is the most watched Zimbabwean channel on satellite. In addition, the history-making, free-to-air channel is making significant strides on the digital terrestrial broadcasting front, as authorities slowly start to roll out the required set top boxes.
The ZAMPS report also shows that 3Ktv is more popular overall in Zimbabwe than South African channels which include those under the stable of the giant South African Broadcasting Corporation. 3Ktv was licensed in November 2020, after coming tops in a competitive and public bidding process. It went on air on February 28 2022, becoming the first licensed private commercial station to operate in the country since television was first introduced in the then Southern Rhodesia in November 1960.
3Ktv is a sister venture to Zimbabwe’s iconic and number one business publication, The Financial Gazette, as well as the inimitable Daily News and the Daily News On Sunday. Besides the live broadcasts, the station and its staff have also bagged many awards over the past 21 months.
