New Free-TV Channel for Tanzania

DAR ES SALAM: Viasat1 is set to launch as a national DTT free-to-air channel in Tanzania later this year or early next, delivering a broad range of general-entertainment shows.

Modern Times Group’s new Tanzanian channel will offer local content such as national news, talk and music shows, African movies and dramas and series from Hollywood. The move to launch the service comes after the company was granted a DTT license by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority. Work is under way to establish offices, play-out and studio facilities in Dar es Salam. Viasat1 joins a landscape that includes ITV, Star TV, EATV and TBC1, among others, serving a population of 48 million. The East African nation is set to be one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the next two years.

MTG is already present in the free-TV business in Africa with Viasat1 in Ghana. The company also operates pay-TV-channels in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Mozambique.

“We are delighted to launch our second free-TV channel in Africa under the Viasat1 brand," said Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, the president and CEO of MTG. "The region is growing rapidly, and we are excited about participating in, and contributing to, the rapid development of a high growth market. Our goal is to build fast growing, profitable and long-term sustainable businesses, by offering African viewers strong brands and a wide range of high quality local and international entertainment programs and formats.”