Zuku launches ITV channel in Tanzania
Wananchi’s Zuku pay-TV service has launched the Independent Television Limited (ITV) free-to-air (FTA) channel on its platform in Tanzania, expanding its satellite bouquet in an effort of broadening its consumer offering.
The channel will air on Channel 029 and promises Zuku audiences informative, educative and entertaining content.
“The new channel forms part of Zuku TV’s commitment to provide it viewers a wide channel lineup and to ensure that they have a broad variety of channels to choose from,” Wananchi chief executive officer (CEO) Richard Alden said.
“With ITV now on our platform we have further enhanced our already strong bouquet offering of 104 channels for our Tanzanian audience. We truly believe that we are bringing the very best in the subscribers home television viewing experiencing.”
Over sixty percent of ITV programming is produced in the country and in the Kiswahili language – the national language of Tanzania.
“As a local brand it makes absolute sense for us to include channels that are originating fresh, relevant and highly entertaining programming for the East African region,” said Alden.
The company, which launched Zuku TV in Nairobi, Kenya on its cable network in 2009 and Direct To Home Services in Kenya and Uganda in late 2011 and then Tanzania in 2012, is set to make Malawi its fourth base of operations and is also planning to venture into Ethiopia and Rwanda by the end of 2014.
