Lack of creative thinking has denied Africa to be part of the global $4 billion original format idea business, Vice President of StarTimes Group, Michael Dearham has said.
Original format business or concept is a television programme idea conceived and owned by the original developer and such ideas could be copyrighted or exported to those who want to replicate it with local flavour for their television audience. Such ideas are ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’, ‘Ultimate Gulder Search’ ‘Britain got talent’ ‘X-Factor ‘, etc.
Deaham who spoke at the just concluded 7th African Digital TV Development seminar in Beijing China organized by StarTimes group calculates the trade in this business to be about $4 billion globally.
Regretting that Africa is playing very insignificanty in the format idea concepts , he said most of the format concepts seen on African TV are largely copyrighted. He attributed Africa’s absence in the format idea business to lack of deep thinking to develop such ideas. According to him, development of original content in Africa is a big challenge. “We are more of same which the world does not want to see especially in this technology world.
Dearham foresees challenge of content development when Africa transits to digital broadcasting. “We need to create content differently when we reach the stage of fully robust digital eco-system of convergence of media screens. We cannot be creating content as it used to be usually for one screen but it should be created for multiscreens.
The StarTimes vice president who frowned at the way Africa is following the design of the Western world and allowing the West to set the pace said content creation in the new era will require a whole new thinking and paradigm shift in the way producers approach content development.
Speaking on the background of originality of content in the era of digital broadcasting, Dearham who is a South African emphasized that originality in terms of content, production is key. “African content creators much understand that in the era of convergence, there are many screens which the people view and access content. Therefore we need to create something that is original and unique and special”.
He advised that to create programmes that are original, African content creators much invest more energy in the development of ideas through research and reading.
Also speaking, Zambia’s minister of Information Kampamba Mulenga said the digitalization of broadcasting system has far-reaching implications for the advancement of societies.
“It is our firm belief that digital broadcasting will greatly contribute to the preservation of African cultures, build bridges of mutual understanding and cooperation across different peoples and nations and, most importantly, that it will foster inclussive development by making information available to the ordinary people in society”.
