By Ashley Moyo
THE country’s leading independent national television station, 3Ktv, will launch its 14th season on Monday, dishing yet more of its delightful mix of local and international programming.
Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, 3Ktv’s buoyant head of programming, Lucia Kanyongo, said the enthralling new season would run under the theme, ‘Freeze the Moment’.
“I have no doubt that our hordes of loyal viewers will relish this new season again, so much so that we reckon so many of them will frequently pause or rewind their favourite programmes to savour their viewing experience.
“As usual, we will be unveiling several new shows, alongside many returning audience favourites.
“The drama line-up will include Untold, a compilation of short films that address issues which affect the girl child, and which is produced and directed by the inimitable Raisedon Baya,” Kanyongo said.
Established viewer favourite Nhodo — which airs at 7pm on Tuesdays, and is directed by the award-winning Slimaz — will continue in the 14th season with new and riveting episodes of the epic journey through sacred forests.
Acclaimed drama series, Bundu, is also continuing on Wednesdays at 7pm, while the popular South African soap, Isibaya, will now air weekdays at 8pm. “We are also launching a new lifestyle show titled Food, Fashion and Inspiration, which will be hosted by Rahima Ibrahim.
“For our younger audiences, we are adding new animated series through our valued partnership with the Republic of Korea and Ubongo.
“On the news and current affairs front, we will be introducing bulletins in Chewa on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30am,” Kanyongo added.
“Sports fans can still look forward to Scottland FC magazines on Friday evening and Northern Region division one soccer matches on Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm,” she also said.
Zweli Sibanda, the managing director of Jester Media Services’ (JMS) Broadcasting Division, said 3Ktv was continuing to perform well — “to the most pleasing extent that research shows that it has grown to become the most popular television channel in Zimbabwe”.
“This success stems from the amazing support that 3Ktv is getting from Zimbabweans, the station’s diverse and gripping programming, and the dedication of the entire staff complement of our expanding multimedia group.
“We promise our viewers that we are committed to continuing to innovate and to giving them top notch content — The Best of Zimbabwe — as our famous motto goes,” he said.
3Ktv is a free-to-air (FTA), digital terrestrial television (DTT) station. This means that contrary to social media babble, anyone with the right equipment — such as a suitable set-top box — can receive its programming for free wherever the signal is available.
However, 3Ktv’s feed is also available through other platforms for which subscription fees may be payable, which explains the commercial station’s key partnership with MultiChoice, which has seen it also hosted on DStv’s channel 293.
Licensed in November 2020 after coming up tops in a competitive bidding process, the country’s fastest-growing television station went live amid palpable excitement nationally on February 28, 2022.
In the process, the most watched local channel on satellite made history and became the first private station to operate legally in Zimbabwe since television was first introduced in the then Southern Rhodesia in November 1960.
The station has won numerous awards for its unique and riveting programming over the past three years.
Its sister media assets within the JMS group include the country’s most influential newspaper, the Daily News, the Daily News On Sunday and The Financial Gazette — Zimbabwe’s number one business publication and prime voice for local industry and commerce.