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is the case, for example in Nigeria or Tanzania, the BBC has sought
partnerships with established local commercial broadcasters and
launched new talk-format local FM stations that carry a certain
amount of key BBC broadcasts, usually its flagship programmes
like Focus on Africa or Network Africa or African Productions. Such
joint ventures (including Ray Power 2 in Nigeria and Sky FM in
Tanzania) have been resounding successes so far.
The concept of partnership is indeed central to the BBC’s operations
in Africa: whether to open a relay in cooperation with a national
broadcaster like KBC in Kenya or MBC in Malawi, or to launch a new
station like Sky FM in Dar Es Salaam, or indeed to secure a
‘rebroadcasting agreement’ with a small FM station in Southern Chad
or Northern Uganda, or to sign a major national news supply deal
with the SABC, the principles are the same. The technology is the
same, with satellite delivery of the audio signals, and the philosophy
is the same too. The BBC seeks partners and aims to consolidate its
relationships throughout Africa with a mix of training programmes,
equipment or funding. The BBC’s FM drive throughout the continent
was never seen as a one way street, but rather as the setting up of a
complex web of bilateral agreements and relationships that ensure
transfers of technologies, know how, co-productions and ever
increasing training programmes in production, engineering, online
technologies or management.
Dozens of radio stations have experienced these exchanges and
the BBC is determined to consolidate and maintain its two-way
partnerships in Africa.
This strategy will continue for years to come. For an international
public service broadcaster which aims to be a link between
communities and a hub of information and knowledge in the world,
the FM revolution in Africa is a challenge that needs to be addressed
with an open mind, enthusiasm and dedicated resources. The BBC
is trusted around the world for its values and its programmes and
being able to reach its large African audiences in excellent sound
quality is a vibrant opportunity, especially on a continent where
speech and music are traditionally paramount.
Reaching out across
the continent
The concept of partnership is essential
,
says
Michel Lobelle,
the BBC’s Broadcasting Manager
for Africa and the Middle East, as he explains the
way World Service radio is embracing new
opportunities across Africa
Above left: traffic passing a
BBC billboard in Maputo;
Right: Michel Lobelle with
the Permanent Secretary at
the Zambian Ministry of
Information on agreement
for relays in the country;
Far right: Group of
musicians at launch of Ray
Power 2 on 106.5 in Lagos
t
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