THE MultiChoice Group (MCG) has handed over a state-of-the-art television studio to Port Elizabeth’s Bay TV.
Following a R2 million upgrade, Bay TV’s studios now feature world-class servers, cameras and digital panel backdrop screens.
Bay TV chairperson, Motse Mfuleni, said he believed that the investment was key to continuing their journey as an independent community television channel which was developing local talent in the community.
“You are able to use a platform such as this to develop our people to tell our own stories, because without talent you are not going to be able to do that,” Mfuleni said.
But Mfuleni acknowledged, even though talent retention was a critical component of their growth, they were not immune to being victims of their own success.
“We have seen talent that we have developed and grown, feed the broader media community, whether it be at technical level, camera crews, engineers and presenters.
“Our passion is about creating a platform for out talent to profile their work without having to go through arduous and restrictive commissioning processes,” Mfuleni said.
MCG executive for corporate affairs, Joe Heshu, said, “For us it’s about broadening access to African storytelling and creating platforms for local content creators to tell their stories, and in so doing create a talent pipeline that can feed all South Africans and indeed take our stories to the world.”
Heshu said that through their investments in infrastructure, technology and empowerment initiatives, they were proud to empower an entertainment supply chain which in turn supported local business and communities.
“In turn, and for stations like Bay TV, this means more local content for local communities,” Heshu concluded.
The upgraded facilities include:
- Digital mobile news gathering DMNG Pro 180 – RA (3G/4G) with a downlink server, uplink
- Eight professional studio cameras
- Digital screen panel for alternate backdrops.
