For some years now, there has been general consensus in the public that Dr. Kin Kariisa’s NBS TV is a channel on the rise. This widely-held public view has since been validated by professional surveying reports including the latest by IPSOS. Titled viewership survey annual report, the dossier indicates what the viewing public thinks about the different TV channels and the programs aired thereon. A number of categories were considered and the findings were as follows:
THE DETAILS
Drawn mostly from the trend/pace-setting Central region, the respondents (drawn from social classes AB, C1 & C2) rated NBS the best on almost every indicator reflecting growth and growing public confidence at a time it’s major rival the Serena-based NTV is sharply declining. When it came to “top mind awareness,” the IPSOS report indicates that 50% easily recognized and associated with NBS compared to previous year 2017’s mere 35%. In contrast, NTV declined by 4 percentage points from 34% in 2017 to 30% in 2018. Spark TV, which painfully lost its Live Wire duo to NBS, declined from 15% in 2017 to mere 7% in 2018. Robert Kabusenga’s Bukedde TV stagnated at 4% and Urban TV at 2% in 2018 compared to 2017’s 3%. Others include government-owned UBC Magic at 1%.
LIVE COVERAGE
On this indicator, NBS (not surprisingly) rated very well with 7 in every 10 people interviewed saying it’s the one they solely rely on when it comes to live news coverage because this something they popularized and demistified. In contrast, 3 in every 10 people sampled relied on NTV for their live coverage needs. In 2017, 54% relied on NBS, a figure that has since grown to 70%. NTV declined from 31% in 2017 to 2018’s 28%. Bukedde TV has mere 3%; Spark (which previously soared) has since declined from 3% in 2017 to mere 2% in 2018. Only 1% of the TV-watching Ugandans rely on UBC for live coverage. A total of 446 were sampled for this category with 70% voting NBS and crediting if for pioneering and demystifying live coverage of events.
PROGRAMS
On the most watched TV programs, NBS still received highest endorsements for especially it’s popular Morning Breeze program which emerged most watched between 7am and 9am every working day. It’s now official that 45% of the people watching TV in the morning are glued on Simon Kaggwa Njala’s Morning Breeze. Rival “Morning on NTV” is at 41%; Spark morning show at 27%; Bukedde’s Ekyenkya at 23%; UBC Magic One at 9%; Pr. Robert Kayanja’s Channel 44 is at 3%; Pr. Joseph Serwadda’s Dream TV at 2%; Urban TV at 2% and UBC 24 at 2%.
EVENING TIME
For the evening hours from 5-9pm, the IPSOS report puts NBS (whose management has also aimed at being the very best) on the very top with 70% of the viewers voting it their number one. NTV, Bukedde, Spark TV, UBC Magic One, Urban TV, Mengo’s BBS Terefayina, UBC and Channel 44 follow in that order. Some of the best NBS programs in that period include NBS After5 at 27% and the Amasengejje news program whose rating between 2017 & 2018 has grown by 10%. But despite growing, at 38% viewership Amasengejje still trails NTV Akakungeezi which has stagnated at 41%. Some of the other best and most watched programs in the evening include The Beat at 13%; Comedy Files 6%; Movies & Soaps at 5% and Mic Check at 3%. For the night programs, the IPSOS report still puts NBS in a very comfortable number one position and this is how: it’s the most watched channel between 9pm and 12am. They score 71% followed by NTV and Bukedde TV in that order. In the order of preference, the IPSOS report names the most watched 8 stations (9pm-12am) as NBS, NTV, Bukedde, Spark, UBC Magic, Urban TV, Channel 44 and BBS Terefayina.
MIRUNDI SHINES
When it comes to the most watched 8 current affairs talk programs (aka talk shows), two of the very best are from NBS whose “One on One with Tamale Mirundi” was voted the very best with 33% of the respondents endorsing it as their number one. It’s closely followed by Charles Odongtho’s Frontline which IPSOS confirms is having the full attention of 32% of the people watching TV at that time (10pm-12am) on Thursdays. Others are Barometer Extra, Patrick Kamara’s On The Spot on NTV (at 9%), Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi’s 4th Estate (at 6%); NBS Investigates (6%); The Perspective (4%) and then People & Power at 5%. When it comes to Gender, the current affairs programs accross board (regardless of the TV channel) are watched mostly by men and very few women. Still on this parameter, the NBS TV programs are more watched by both men and women than those of it’s competitors. When it come to entertainment shows and programs, NBS still enjoys the comfortable number one position. Their NBS After5 program is watched by 33% of Ugandans watching TV at that time and it’s followed by The Beat at 21%. Comfortable as they might be, the NBS strategists and top management can’t stop being sleepless about Faridah Nakazibwe whose “Mwasuze Mutya” program in the morning is the reason each time she is on air, NTV commands 25% of the viewership in the Central region. But there is reason for Faridah Nakazibwe not to become complacent but instead work even harder this year because 2018’s 25% reflects a worrying decline from the 29% she commanded the previous year 2017. This equally applies to guys producing Kin Kariisa’s Morning Breeze because it’s rating too declined from 31% in 2017 to 28% in the year 2018 (even when it remains on top). When it comes to vernacular news programs being repeated in the morning (at 6am), NBS still rules with 6% of the people on TV at that time compared to the 4% watching the NTV Akakungeezi repeat news (6am-7am). For comments, calls, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
