Back in the days when i was growing up, ETV (Ethiopia Television) was boring. Kids didn’t have much option as far as TV shows and it was the same for teenagers.We spent most of our time outdoors playing sports. I wouldn’t trade my days spent outdoors for anything. But when we came home tired from school and the many outdoor activities, there wasn’t anything else to do at home except getting bored.
Since i came to the U.S., i have become a big fan of reality TV shows.
Some of my favorite shows in no particular order are:
- The Apprentice
- American Idol (pure entertainment here)
- Run’s House
- Flavor Of Love
- Survivor and many others.
Sure, i don’t know anything about the TV business but i imagine all of these shows are very good for everyone included – the cable networks, advertisers and mostly the viewers.
So why didn’t anyone try to replicate the success of these shows in Ethiopia?
There are so many ideas i can throw in there that would instantly be big-hitters in Ethiopia. A show like The Apprentice would be wildly successful in Ethiopia. No doubt about it.
Can you imagine having dozens of entrepreneurs competing on a Tv show for a grand prize of, let’s say, 200,000.00 Ethiopian Birr? I think the people of Ethiopia would love such a show and not to mention the lesson young kids would learn from such a show.
Again, i don’t know the business aspect of Television in Ethiopia, but if a show is successful and achieves a respectable ratings, then the advertisers are surely to follow.
Even though, this sounds like a good business idea and a practical one at that, the people in the end would benefit the most.
What do you guys think?
I’d love to hear your perspectives on this- leave a comment if you have anything to say…
Filed under: culture | Tagged: abesha, ethiopia business, ethiopia news, ethiopia television, ethiopians, habesha people
Reality shows are not even real and now even carry a disclaimer that scenes are made for entertainment purposes and they are cheap to make and a cheap alternative to drama making in the West. It would be better if ETV invested in their drama section and young ethiopian tv writers.
We tend to think of reality shows as entertaining, and they generally are. Now there are the spin-offs. Top, Chef, Top Model etc. However, one reason they succeed, is because they have low production cost. At the same time they can easily be manipulated to create tension, or excitement when none exists. I am sure you remember with Omorosa.
To me this is another US export that is dimming the creativity of media producers worldwide. Why are you not advocating for better writing on TV programs? Why are you not advocating better cinematography?I am so sick of the music group dancing on a rolling hill. How about better music videos. On balance USA is a cultural hegemony that is bulldozing every medium, and not always for the best. Why are we not borrowing from Japan, or Germany, etc. Why indeed not from other African countries. Moreover, why do we only adopt the very worst of the USA.
Today, the Dune and I are in total agreement.
hi haweryou it sme serk