ZIMBABWE’s leading independent media house, Alpha Media
Holdings (AMH), will soon launch online radio and television services after
being awarded a licence by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), in
terms of Section 10 of the Broadcasting Services Act (Chapter 12:06).
Through its subsidiary, Heart & Soul Broadcasting
Services, AMH, publishers of NewsDay, NewsDay Weekender, Southern Eye, The
Zimbabwe Independent, and The Standard, can now provide video on demand (VOD)
and Webcasting Services, as the group moves to tap into the growing digital
platforms and internet population.
Heart & Soul Broadcasting Services chief executive
officer and AMH chief operating officer Kangai Maukazuva said the media giant
was very excited to expand its business model into digital broadcasting.
“Broadcast journalism has moved and content consumption
patterns have also shifted. The phenomena present to us a huge opportunity to
expedite our vision of a digital first business in a market that is fast
becoming a digital society,” Maukazuva said
“Our shareholders are passionate digital citizens and were
the first to have coined ‘a digital first strategy’ and we are proud to be the
largest digital media business in this market.
“We also appreciate that our local regulatory authorities
are moving with times and unbundling opportunities arising from new trends.”
AMH managing director Kenias Mafukidze said the licence
would enable the company to expand its market share and give more value to its
already huge internet following.
On all its online platforms, including the three websites
and their respective social media platforms, AMH has a following of over four
million.
“The way in which we consume news and entertainment has
changed dramatically over the past decade, creating exciting opportunities for
traditional broadcasters. Come to think of it: Millennials spend more time
streaming content than watching it on television, and more than 20% of them are
viewing shows on their mobile devices. Streaming services are growing rapidly,
with around 60% of consumers using them,” Mafukidze said.
“Being able to offer VOD allows our users to select and
watch and listen to video or audio content such as movies and TV shows whenever
they choose, rather than at a scheduled broadcast time. This will complement our
leading print offerings. We are committed to investing into delivery of content
to our loyal customers.”
The global media and entertainment industry market is worth
$2 trillion and has grown by nearly 5% annually. In 2016, the United States
market alone accounted for $712 billion. VOD viewers are expected to reach 209
million by 2021, up from 181 million in 2015.
“In this regard, as AMH, we are repositioning our business
to take advantage of the new opportunities in the digital space,” Mafukidze
said. “The future lies in being able to distribute content in creative ways to
different audiences.”
He added that AMH was focused on improving customer
engagement on all its platforms, creating an efficient content marketing and
distribution strategy.
The media and entertainment industry continues to
experience growing secular shifts in viewing consumption and advertising
spending on digital media at the expense of traditional print-based media, and
AMH is seeking to tap into millions of those internet users. Newsday
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