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Showbiz Reporter
Zimbabwean news and entertainment channel, ZTN Prime, is set to be launched on the DStv platform on May 24.

The channel that will be available on DStv Channel 294 will be accessed by DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Access and Lite bouquet customers.

MultiChoice Zimbabwe general manager, Norman Raisbeck said the new channel introduces an exciting era in Zimbabwe’s television space given the resounding reception that ZTN products have already received on the market.

“This is an exciting development that further extends the reach of Zimbabwean content on the DStv platform,” he said.

Raisbeck said as Africa’s leading entertainment platform, MultiChoice continuously seeks opportunities to provide local and inspired content to Zimbabwean audiences.

ZTN general manager Nomsa Nkala said they are excited to be partnering with MultiChoice in bringing a fresh and unique approach to Zimbabwean storytelling into the market.

She said ZTN aims to cater to a wide variety of Zimbabwean viewers and tastes.

“ZTN Prime will be a Zimbabwean news and entertainment channel with an international perspective. Content will include lifestyle, sport, business, entertainment, news and current affairs, children’s programming, drama, and soap operas,” Nkala said.

Nkala said some of the exciting highlights to look forward to on ZTN Prime include local sports and shows — Days at Ekasi and series Soul Mate.

“ZTN Prime will be home to up-to-the-minute results from across Zimbabwe’s sports arena – covering live boxing, top-tier rugby matches, big rivalries in school sport, and live Premier Soccer League action on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The channel will also go wild with top sports personalities on Happy Hour as their lives intertwine with musical artistes live in the studio.”

She said sports fanatics should look forward to The Couch, a television ride laced with unfiltered spirited commentary on topical football issues while Ultimate Sports Show collates trending stories from different sports genres.

The day-to-day lives of ordinary citizens will be showcased on Days At Ekasi, a show which will explore Zimbabwe’s townships, unearthing rare street lingo, dress codes, and tastes that set each “ghetto” apart.

Nomsa Nkala

“The presenter gives a brief history of the ‘ghetto’ which they are visiting. A tour guide — touted as a ‘ghetto fabulous’ leads viewers and the presenter into what makes their ‘ghetto’ unique.

“Soul Mate, on the other hand, is a series about two lovers, Phumza and Locratia, who will take viewers on a journey that will reveal how they ended up becoming soulmates.”

ZTN is a subsidiary of Zimbabwe Newspapers Ltd (1980), the country’s largest and oldest integrated media company with eight newspaper titles, a commercial printing facility, and four radio stations. The group is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.