SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: Planet Image Productions launched what is believed to be Africa’s first radioTV on Tuesday 24 July. Planet RadioTV (PRTV), based in Randburg, is an online hybrid of radio and television services with a focus on African music and lifestyle.
“It’s so nice to finally have Africa at the digital forefront,’ said Mabel Mabaso, chief operations officer and director at Planet Image Productions.
PRTV will broadcast a mix of live footage from the studio, music videos and pre-recorded programming, with nine hours of fresh content per day. The station is already online, and an app will be launched at the beginning of August to make online viewing and listening easier.
According to Mabaso, consuming PRTV online requires no buffering, thanks to the use of servers in both South Africa and India.
The concept of radioTV is made possible by a unique, completely automated system which relies on audio switcher software to do camera cuts. The software identifies which voice is speaking to determine which of the four cameras should be on air, along with the relevant graphics.
Mabaso noted that Planet Radio was launched in mid-2011, and had garnered 30,000 listeners within the first six months. Their target audience is between 18 and 40 years old and is mostly Africans living on the continent and abroad.
Wale Akinlabi, CEO of Planet Image Productions, added: “Our aim is to change the history of radio stations in Africa. Once we prove its possible to combine radio with music television, everyone will be doing this.’
Their plans for the future include exploring opportunities with broadcasters in South Africa and the rest of the continent, as well as the UK and Asia.
Report by Linda Loubser
