Zambia
About
MultiChoice
Zambia
"We’re better together" was the guiding sentiment behind MultiChoice Africa and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) joining forces in 1994 to launch MultiChoice Zambia and the country’s first satellite-TV service.
This strong private-public partnership (PPP) formed the foundation of what would become a national success story, with MultiChoice Zambia evolving into the country’s most loved storyteller while simultaneously helping to grow the nation’s economy.
Today MultiChoice Zambia employs 350 Zambian employees with a footprint spanning four branches, 206 accredited installers, 65 agents and 385 direct sales representatives.
“MultiChoice Zambia is known for enriching lives. I want us to go one step further. I want to see MultiChoice Zambia providing a service that uses this life-changing power to radically transform the mindset of our people and the way they look at life. If we want young people to be inspired to rise up and make positive economic and social contributions to their countries, we need to show them this. We need to use video entertainment to illustrate exactly what inspired youth look like and what they are capable of achieving.”
How we create social value
MultiChoice is proud of its impact on the growth of Zambia’s economy by directly and indirectly contributed positively to the Zambian Economy.
The business’ indirect impact through which its operations and products help to sustain over a thousand Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating as agencies, sales representatives, retail outlets and installers. In 2012, MultiChoice pioneered the introduction of a digital terrestrial TV platform by investing in a network deploying the world’s most advanced, DVB-T2, technology.
Growing Zambia’s creative industries
It’s not only in infrastructure that MultiChoice Group is having a major positive impact. As Zambia’s most-loved storyteller, MultiChoice has played a significant role in developing the local content industry through local channels, such as Zambezi Magic and oneZED.
During the 7 years since Zambezi Magic’s launch, more than 20 Zambian production houses have worked with the channel, clocking more than 1,600 hours with locally produced shows like Zuba, Mpali, Date My Family, My Kitchen Party and Our Perfect Wedding.
MultiChoice Group aims to further develop this creative capacity by investing heavily in Zambia’s TV and film industries. The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) initiative aims to upskill talented young creatives, sponsoring students in a fully-paid, year-long learnership at the prestigious MTF Academy for Southern Africa in Lusaka.
Clarence Kondwelani Nyoni, Emmanuel Mwape, Jones Mvula, Joshua Kafumukache, Mainala Silondwa, Muchemwa Sinkala and Racheal Mbewe proudly represented Zambia in the academy’s inaugural year. In 2021, Abel Ngoma, Cosmas Ng’andwe, Masuzyo Mwale, Edward Sakala, Kaluba Margret Musonda Mayowe, Tasha Chitika and Christine Mulemeli are flying the Zambian flag high. And now With the 2022 Alumni of Canicius Kabwe, Amos Mwape, Blessings Mainga, David Senkwe, Victor Lushinjilo, Catherine Zulu and Daniel Lungu are leaving their footprints in the creative space in Zambia.
Investing in our local sports industry
Since 2012, the MultiChoice brand, SuperSport, has also invested in license fees to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), sponsoring and covering Super League matches live on SuperSport channels.
Playing a fundamental role in helping to build Zambia’s football community, these broadcasts enable clubs to generate sponsorships and ticket sales while supporting careers in the sports field and creating funding for Zambian sports development.
Enriching Zambian Lives
As a responsible corporate citizen, MultiChoice Group commissioned Accenture to conduct a socio-economic impact study to review the value created for the Zambian economy, broader society, the creative industry, adjacent industries and consumers.
The report quantified MultiChoice’s contribution to Zambia’s social and economic development in line with Government’s national economic growth agenda and the findings revealed that MultiChoice directly and indirectly contributed significantly to the Zambian economy between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2019 by positively contributing to the national GDP and impacting the lives of Zambian citizens.Through its operations, investments in technology, local infrastructure, Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives and local partnerships, MultiChoice enriched the lives of 3.4 million Zambians during the four years under review.
Build, create, grow – these are the ideals guiding MultiChoice’s efforts now as it looks to enrich the lives of Zambians through rich Zambian and African storytelling, powerful social upliftment and strong economic development.
Mwatupanga!
Gasper Ngulube, SuperSport Presenter
“MultiChoice enabled my talent to grow and become who I am today by allowing me to express myself from being a vision controller to a presenter - they gave me an opportunity to showcase that talent”.
Emmanuel Mwape, MTF Alumni
“MultiChoice has observed that there is something missing in the creative industry. They are empower upcoming young filmmakers opportunity to learn the art of filmmaking”.
Recha Karima, Head of Operations Support
“I have seen myself grow throughout the process of being at MultiChoice, I can write a whole book about MultiChoice and the impact it has had on my life as well as the in Zambia".