Channel Yemaswati (formerly known as Channel S) is Eswatini's only commercial television channel. The channel adopted its current name upon the rename from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018.
It was launched in March 2001 by Ultimate Television Productions (Ultipro) using a Ku-band satellite from PanAmSat used by both DStv and Sentech's Vivid, reaching an audience across the SADC region.[1]
In 2008, the channel was involved in a financial scandal, as Qhawe Mamba, the channel's owner, did not receive the earnings from Channel S Club members, being transferred to Ultipro in the process.[2]
Channel S was reported to operated without a license in November 2009.[3] In late October 2010, the channel moved to "half-empty" premises at an office in the Manzini Mall. The station lacked transmitters of its own and was broadcasting on rented South African transmitters and facilities. Contents were saved on a flash drive and sent to Nkoyoyo, where it was uploaded to a server. From then, the server delivered its information to the Johannesburg satellite facilities before beaming back to Swaziland.[4]
In 2021, Qhawe Mamba announced that he would change the channel's news operation to focus more on stories that impact people. Such stories, according to Mamba, bring in high viewing figures.[5]
References
edit- ^ "New TV channel hits Swazi airwaves", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 29, May–July 2001
- ^ "Channel S Club's money transferred to Ultipro'". Times of Swaziland. 3 December 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Channel S has no proper licence". Times of Swaziland. 28 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Channel S broadcasts from half empty office". Times of Swaziland. 24 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Channel S Director Qhawe Mamba urges journalists to focus more on stories that impact the people". Times of Swaziland. 7 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2024.