Soweto TV, South Africa’s first community TV station, made local media history in Orlando West with the switch-on and its first live broadcast on Sunday, 1 July.
Soweto TV is a volunteer community television initiative – made by Sowetans for Sowetans – which will evolve into a fully commercial enterprise over the coming year.
The switch-on took place between 4pm and 6pm on Sunday at the new Soweto TV studios at Tloreng Primary School, Vilakazi Street, Orlando West.
Soweto TV is looking to provide a training platform for all volunteer producers, directors, technical and production staff who would like to help keep this station on air. Auditions have brought forward a number of known and unknown candidates. Presenters thus far include the well known Masello Motana and Charlie.
The station is positioned as an interactive, engaging and informative “talk radio on television’ concept, where both presenters and producers of all shows engage with Soweto viewers about relevant issues.
The programming line-up includes Gospel Music, Spiritual Talk; Sports, Entertainment, Women’s Talk, Soweto Today (current affairs around Soweto); a live news feed every hour on the hour from The Sowetan Newspaper; and a Youth interactive show.
Soweto TV is live every weekday from 6pm to midnight, with repeats packaged the rest of the day. The weekend schedule includes a live sports block from 12 – 5pm and on Sunday – Gospel and Spiritual Talk.
To tune into Soweto TV, follow these instructions:
Step 1: press menu on your TV or remote control
Step 2: go to search
Step 3: let it search on UHF band
Step 4: skip e.tv channel while searching
Step 5: press stop when you see Soweto TV Channel
Step 6: store the channel
