Skip to main content

Broadcast & Film Africa: Kenyan perception on Local content

I recently undertook a survey amongst my friends and subscribers to the Skunkworks and Kictanet mailing lists as to their perceptions on local content. Amongst the survey questions, were their feelings on marketing of content and additional remarks.

Below are the responses of the 40 survey respondents.

A big thanks to all those who took part.


Do you believe content producers are doing enough to market their content in Africa? Why do you say so?
  1. Currently yes, I have seen alot of facebook adverts
  2. No. No market surveys to determine how much people are actually willing to pay, no consideration for average income of the market...
  3. NO. They also know the quality needs some work.
  4. "nope - if they were, then when something hip comes out; then they wud advertise like the BoxOffice does - before popularity wanes.
  5. They shud also make it readily available thru various distribution while the content is still in demand - sadly they dont."
  6. "NO WE ARE NOT MAKING USE OF INTERNET MARKETING"
  7. there is nothing to market (thats wasting money on crap)
  8. No they aren't. Not only in marketing but also in content quality. There's a lot of mediocre content out there, and the good stuff doesn't get enough awareness advertising.
  9. They producers are doing the best they can. Most probably due to lack of proper sponsorship or funding, the quality is compromised.
  10. No. There is little to no advertising of content be it music, movies, plays, etc. Just the occasional ad in the papers.
  11. No. they lack the means to do so.
  12. No. Very few are. There is little migration of existing (past) productions into digital form. THe only television program to actively embrace digital distribution, as far as I know, is the XYZ show.
  13. No.
  14. No..There are no clear distribution of content, more so there is no enough Marketing of their products
  15. No. Content not easily accessed either physically or online.
  16. No. they operate in a very small market. They need to spread their market base and use the internet,social sites more.See the success of 'Just a Band' and Sauti Sol
  17. NO, MOST OF THE LOCAL CONTENT I HAVE HAD ACCESS TO  WAS AS A RESULT OF AVENUES OTHER THAN  MARKETING OR PROMOTION
  18. No.they are more interested in being more recognised beyond the african borders.
  19. I don't think so. Possibly they do not have sufficient funds to market their products over the cost of production. 
  20. Nope
  21. No. Distribution of locally produced media is really low. I can go into music shops and not find any local music that I like. The type of music that the youth like is hardly ever stocked in shops. The next step is online marketing if they aim to target the youth. Twitter and Facebook are so cheap to advertise on, yet so many artistes don't make use of them.
  22. "NO.
  23. minimal or no advertising. at most times they are virtually unknown.
  24. local TV media filled by foreign content."
  25. No they are not doing enough to market their contents in Africa instead they are trying so much to copy the Western styles
  26. -
  27. No, i think they need to understand that there is need for Producers , Marketers and Distributors so that market deman can be satisfied.
  28. They are not doing enough due to economic problems- they do not have money to market or outsource the marketing aspect to other players. The marketing channels are also expensive and need research to identify effective marketing communication, channels and strategies
  29. "Content providers have done taken commendable steps in the past 5 years and Kudos to them.
  30. However partnerships with Mobole operators remain few and sketchy, it is time they focused on mobile content as this is the next frontier.
  31. I believe Local contnt that is captivaring, relevant , affordable and well done will always trounce the international stuff that unfortunately we have become accostomed to."
  32. No they are not. They seem to pay too much attention on the production that they forget to market their content enough. 
  33. A crossection of content producers have taken the marketing thing to heart and are promoting the hell out of both online and offline channels. but they tend to see it as more of a numbers game than quality interaction with their consumers thus create no lasting bond.
  34. In Kenya, no, because you can see that the distribution channel isn't as wide as of that of for example Nigeria or South Africa. It is rare for a Kenyan to go into a supermarket in Nigeria and find a Kenyan digital content, but it's easy to go to a supermarket in Kenya and find a Nigerian digital content
Any additional remarks on locally produced content?
  1. They need to meet the standards we are used to internationally. Its not about the fact that its local, we need to improve on quality
  2. Consider the bottom of the pyramid, aim for volumes such that counterfeiting is not worth anyones while.. 
  3. nope
  4. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY IN LOCAL CONTENT
  5. some creative, more natural stuff sells itself. tv is still the same shit since we first owned a black and white tv. well there's a few exceptions like Mother in law, shuga, capital talk, etc but most stuff remains wanting especially documentaries. ever noticed how all tv stations show a one minute clock before news? maybe am the only one who gets irritated by it.
  6. "The skills are there, just not being used or people are too lazy. Instead of building a good set for a music video, artists just dance in front of a house, etc. Boring.
  7. Plus there is no originality at all."
  8. It requires marketing support.
  9. Mobile/Internet service providers should ideally support content distribution through adequate bandwidth allocation and content hosting.
  10. We have long way to go but its important not to lose originality.
  11. We have good actors,producers and creative people,all they need is to create a platform to showcase their work. Some of the editing needs work as well as the scripts etc. Keep it simple,Keep it local and it will sell.Don't be too focused on aping American or other Western culture,
  12. THEY NEED TO KILL SOME MONOTOMY TRENDS IN THEIR PRODUCTIONS, NEED TO IMPROVE ON VIDEO AND IN SOME SOUND QUALITY. OTHERWISE A GOOD EFFORT FOR BEGINERS
  13. Most of the music produced in kenya provides no relevant info which wud be worth much. The movie industry has a long way to go with professionalism lacking in great deal. 
  14. Piracy is killing the local industry. Taking a walk down river road you can buy any sort of locally produced soaps in vanacular but I'm very certain that the content owners do not make a dime from the sales.
  15. NOne
  16. Need to put some professionalism into the industry. only high quality content can gain interest from people
  17. -
  18. So far we are doing a great job, there is need for more local languages to be used.
  19. Some of the materials are poorly packaged and do not last or at times dissappoint the consumer like video and music contents packaged in poor quality
  20. we should improve on distributions channels

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

RE: Appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to The United States of America

Image: South African marriage courtesy The Telegraph ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/6237922/South-African-man-marries-4-women-at-same-ceremony.html  ) Dennis Kioko, Address Pending. President to-be-elect, Republic of Kenya, Address Pending, Again. Dear Sirs/Madams, RE: Appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to The United States of America  I would like to draw your attention to news reported across various sections of the press (way behind your daily portraits on the front page) that several Missions to the country are equivalently vacant with the duty of appointed high commissioners having expired. This includes Kenya's High Commission to the United States of America. Among your first duties, having assumed duty as Kenya's president, duly elected or otherwise, will be to appoint commissioners to these missions. It is in this regard that I highly invoke you to consider me as a likely appointment to the

Nairobi's Top 4 Texas Brisket Places Reviewed and Ranked

Brisket on a bed of roast vegetables with barbecue sauce at Texas Brisket, Kikuyu  This review has been updated after a number of you suggested I try the brisket at County2County.  What's the best place to have Brisket in Nairobi? What's even brisket?  Brisket is one of the toughest cuts in a cow, from around the belly. It is so tough that it has to be smoked for about 16 hours to tenderise. But that there, is the catch.  12 to 16 hours later, it is the most flavourful and softest cut you will ever have. So full of flavour and so soft you can pick it apart with your fingers.  However, due to the long cooking time involved, only a few places offer brisket in Nairobi.  The best so far is Texas Brisket which is located within Kikuyu Railway station.  They do the meat for a proper 16 hours, and will usually have a fatty or non-fatty portion. The fatty portions are more tasty. A 500 gram serving goes for KSh. 900 and a 1 KG order comes with a serving of free fries. Their brisket has

Beers in Kenya: A sober opinion

Note: This is a dated post and has since been mostly passed by events. SAB Miller beers including Castle and Peroni are no longer widely available in Kenya after their exist. Sirville Brewery was bought out by Brew Bistro before being permanently shut in a tax dispute. Kenya is a land of milk, honey, beaches and taxes. I have penned, or is typed, a newer post here .  Peroni - One of the best beers in Kenya. Did a taste of canned and bottled Italian, and bottled Tanzanian I like the tangy flavour and body in Tanzanian Peroni. The can is close. Heineken drinkers will like the Italian one.  I have had a short beer swigging stint in my life. It has however been long enough for me to share my opinion of Kenyan beer. Interestingly, over the course of sharing such opinions with other drunkards connoisseurs,  I have found that we all have different views as to what beer is the best, which one makes you too drunk, or which one gives one free, extra hangover for every hangover you get

The bitter story of the downfall of Mumias Sugar company

A spoonful of sugar, but for who? ( Image: Carol Wallis on Flickr ) Have you heard the bitter story of Mumias Sugar? Regarded by many as Kenya's most successful sugar miller, Mumias Sugar Company was a disaster waiting to happen. Many pointed out how Mumias Sugar Company was a fortress in the wreck that is Kenya's sugar industry, only unaware that it was just a matter of time. As the old wise men said, "Ukiona cha mwenzako cha nyolewa, tia chako maji". The proverb means that if you see your neighbour's head getting shaved, your head will soon be undergoing the same - you'd therefore better wet your head for a smoother shave, otherwise you will be forced to undergo a painful, dry, shave. But what ails Kenya's sugar industry? The Kenya sugar industry is under legal siege. The typical Kenyan issue of coming up with laws to tackle a problem is evident here. Many of Kenya's sugar factories are owned by the government, and have slowly decline

A to Z of Girl Pick-up Lines

Girl,  You are like a breath of fresh air , like an outstanding piece of Art in an art gallery  There are many things you and me can be, but it puts a smile of satisfaction on my face and a smile of envy on my buddies faces that you both beautiful and bootyfull  E ither your creator must have taken the greatest care creating you or your cheated your way around heaven, 'coz you clearly the prettiest girl on earth  D on't ask why my breathing quickens every time I see you; setting my eyes on you makes me feel like I am drowning in your beauty, I have to catch my breath   Exciting, Exotic, Elegant, Electrifying ; so many definitions in english , but when it comes to the human race, girl, you are the one and only definition of all the above  W hen I say you are fly , it may be due to the sensation of flying off the ground that I get when I am around you. Some girls are beautiful, a few are decent, even fewer got class; I didn't know I could find all this qualities in one gir