by Thinus Ferreira
Several big questions have been raised over the bizarre relationship between South Africa's public broadcaster through its Ukhozi FM radio station, and the Amazon Prime Video streamer, after Ukhozi FM staff accepted and travelled to Nigeria in an all-expenses paid trip so that Ukhosi FM can promote a rival content service's Gangs of Lagos production to SABC radio listeners.
Over the past Easter long weekend, Amazon Prime Video in South Africa took Ukhozi FM - the SABC's Zulu radio station based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - to Lagos, Nigeria, for a multiday junket for Amazon Studio's Gangs of Lagos that had a red carpet premiere there.
Ukhozi FM as a Zulu radio station doesn't do dedicated TV and film coverage, doesn't have dedicated film reviewers as a specialist reporting beat on staff, didn't attend the South African public broadcaster's media launch in 2022 in Johannesburg of the organisation's own SABC+ video streaming service, and doesn't have any history of incisive, ongoing coverage of either Amazon Studios, Amazon Prime Video or Amazon Prime Video series or films.
Gangs of Lagos from filmmaker Jáde Osiberu, is Amazon Prime Video's first African Original film production, starring Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi and Iyabo Ojo.
Besides Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, head of Nigerian Originals at Amazon Prime Video in London who attended the junket on Lagos' Victoria Island, Ned Mitchell also flew in from Los Angeles who is Amazon Prime Video's head of originals for Africa and the Middle East.
Amazon Prime Video also had some social media influencers, including from South Africa, at the multiday launch.
The decision of Amazon Prime Video in South Africa to pay for Ukhozi FM to travel to Lagos to promote content of Amazon to listeners of a South African public broadcaster's radio station, raised eyebrows, and has led to multiple questions around why the SABC - which has its own SABC+ video streamer - is now suddenly fine with plugging and promoting a commercial rival's video streaming service.
Also unclear is whether the SABC and Ukhozi FM is henceforth going to be promoting other Amazon Prime Video content to SABC radio listeners, and what this relationship now is, and why it came about.
TVwithThinus asked the SABC why one of its radio stations in South Africa is suddenly covering a made-for-TV film from the TV and film industry in another country, and giving coverage and promotion to another streaming service which happens to be in competition with the SABC.
Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson, in response to the media query, says that "Ukhozi FM has been invited by industry stakeholders to network and explore opportunities for the biggest radio brand in Africa. The station will also cover the movie as one of Africa's biggest productions".
The SABC didn't specify what these various opportunities are that were explored. It should be noted however that Gangs of Lagos is far from "one of Africa's biggest productions" as a stand-alone feature film.
The SABC admits that "It must be noted that Ukhozi FM did not incur any cost for this trip as it is paid for by the host".
The SABC was also asked if Ukhozi FM is now going to do ongoing coverage of Amazon Prime Video's services and content for South African radio listeners, what the SABC makes of the coverage as part of promotion from a paid trip that the public broadcaster is doing for a private video streaming service, why the SABC and Ukhozi FM decided to work with Amazon Studios and Amazon Prime Video now, and if the SABC will also be promoting Amazon's other TV projects from now on.
The public broadcaster didn't provide specific answers to these questions.
