Sunbird partners with Malawi’s Times TV

Sunbird Search for a Star has unveiled Times TV as the official partner that will produce TV programmes during this season’s talent search.

Sunbird Group Sales Manager Titania Katenga-Kaunda said the partnership was exciting because it would enable TV audience to enjoy the show.

“Those who will miss the eviction shows will be able to watch quality footage on television. The talent search also aims at unearthing raw talent and TV will be the perfect platform for young artists to realise their dream,” she said.

Katenga-Kaunda said there were a lot of changes to this year’s talent search and partnering with Times TV would bring a new dimension to this show which has run since 2006.

“E-Wallet producers emphasised that they had played their part to promote this concept since 2006 but bringing on board a lot of corporate sponsors would finally fulfill the show’s potential to make a huge impact to the Malawi music industry,” she said.

Times Group Sales and Marketing Manager Dumisani Ngulube said it is about time Malawians watched well produced and high quality reality television shows.

“It’s about time Malawians enjoyed the home grown productions that have world class quality and touch. We at Times TV are excited to be engaged as the exclusive production partner of the search for a star reality show. It’s about time we clearly defined celebrity figures. Through such reality shows with the highest standards, we should be able to achieve this,” he said.

Ngulube said Times Group has sustained a ‘history firsts’ in media excellence in the last 118 years and they were geared to do exactly the same with the Search for a Star.”

“To achieve this, Times TV has heavily invested in the finest television production equipment the market has on offer and a creative production team oozing with brilliant television ideas,” he said.

He said going forward, the vision of Times TV is to engage the corporate sector to partner in a series of productions that are mutually beneficial to both the private sector and the 16 million people that this nation serves.

“We would like to introduce life changing reality shows covering several entertainment and sporting disciplines that have a local taste, feel and touch,” he said.

Ngulube also encouraged Malawians endowed with talent to participate in the Sunbird Search for Star. The competition, which is open to contestants aged between 18 and 35, will take place between August 23 and November 30 this year.

The auditions for Sunbird Search for a Star will take place at Sunbird Nkopola on August 23, Sunbird Lilongwe on August 25, Sunbird Mzuz on August 26, Sunbird Livingstonia on August 28, Sunbird Ku Chawe on August 30 and Sunbird Mount Soche on September 1 and 2.

The eviction shows will take place from September 28 to November 16 to be held at Sunbird Mount Soche and Sunbird Capital. The judges of the show are Marvin Hanke, Dumisani Mfune and Mildred Mphande.

As headline sponsor for the talent search, Sunbird would spend substantial sums in this year’s event including prizes for the winners; K500,000 for the winner, K300,000 for second place and K200,000 for the third-placed contestant.

The registration for ‘Sunbird Search for a Star’ will begin on Monday today through E-Wallet website or using registration forms that can be collected at any of the Sunbird hotels. – By Clifford Kawanga