This archive report was first published on 26 October 2019.
Maisha Magic East, a channel airing locally produced content on DStv and GOtv, has been a game-changer in the Kenyan television industry since its inception in 2019.
However, local producers have expressed frustration with Multichoice's criteria for selecting shows to air, citing financial demands that price them out of their dreams.
Speaking at a Multichoice event, Corporate Affairs Manager Phillip Wahome explained the process of taking in local content, which involves a 'Program Acceptance Process' that includes a pilot script and video footage.
According to Wahome, producers need to submit a pilot that includes a script and a short video demonstrating what the show will depict, but the script and video do not have to contain the entirety of the show.
He emphasized that Multichoice has a limited number of productions that can be done within a given year, which is partly dependent on the budget allocated for the financial year.
Wahome attributed the producers' complaints to a lack of understanding of the show adoption process, which is a long and complex one.
He encouraged producers to think long-term and invest in creating a pilot, which can even be shot on a phone, and to move their idea to the next level beyond written words.
