By Mwalimu George Ngwane
In October 2004, a multimedia organisation called Spectrum Group hit the audiovisual landscape in Cameroon with a new dual channel outfit called Spectrum Television (STV). STV’s arrival threatened the foundation of C.R.T.V – the only state TV Cameroonians have been obliged to watch since 1985. C.R.T.V itself had dulled the information, education and entertainment psyche of its viewers through programmes that were alienated from Cameroonians, and through a managerial style that was obsessed with patronage and megalomania. No doubt then, STV’s arrival was a relief from the boredom of monotony that CRTV had excelled in. There was every reason to be glued to STV.
First, the media organ launched two channels simultaneously with the promise that STV1 would cater for programmes in English and STV 2 for programmes in French.
Second the Senegalese – born General Manager, Mactar Silla brought rich professional credentials yet a simple and discreet managerial style that contrasted with the omnipotent and omnipresent character of the pre-Vamoulke CRTV epoch. Silla was the antithesis of “Supervision Generale”.
Third the journalists cut for themselves an ambitious and assiduous profile. As a matter of fact their strength was paradoxically their lack of professional exposure, their sense of community communication and their spirit of consumer – market based programming.
As early a 6:30 daily, Lulu Efange’s talkshow “Good Morning Cameroon” became the wake up alarm clock for Cameroonians.
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