StarTimesLaunches Indigenous Entertainment Channel

StarTimes has launched a new premium indigenous entertainment channel with rich cultural Yoruba and African themes called ST Yoruba.
The channel, which went on air on May 1, 2016, will enable movie enthusiasts in Nigeria to enjoy more entertainment on digital television.

The new channel, which airs on Channel 160 on digital terrestrial and channel 412 on digital satellite platforms was designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba nation and as a 24-hour general entertainment channel follows the success of ST DadinKowa enjoyed by the Hausa viewers.

Announcing the new channel, StarTimes Marketing Director, Dare Kafar, said: “StarTimes is very excited to announce the arrival of its new Yoruba movie channel. It has been in our plans to give more to our movie loving subscribers. They deserve a glamorous channel that gives maximum satisfaction. And with this, they will be thrilled and enjoy maximum entertainment.”

He added “This channel has been designed to build cohesive family viewing with a fine blend of classic and contemporary Yoruba movies, cultural shows, celebrity news, historical shows, behind the scene programs, celebration of movie icons and other lifestyle programs. The channel blends universal appeal with local flavour and appeals to viewers across South Western Nigeria States, the Yorubas locally and in diaspora, as well as other viewers and fans of Yoruba culture and entertainment across Africa. The launch of ST Yoruba was a highly strategic move which will help to display the rich Yoruba culture in all its glory to a global audience.”

He explained that ST Yoruba as a lifestyle channel generally, would include fiction-based social family dramas, fun-filled chat shows, high-voltage action reality shows, and blockbuster Yoruba movies.

“ Local producers will be empowered to produce top rated contemporary contents that will be of high cultural value and most appealing to the viewership. Indeed, ST Yoruba will become the cultural, political and social integration of the Yorubas as a desirable development agenda partner, “Kafar added.

According to him, viewers can also enjoy new and freshly produced Yoruba movies, which capture the exploits of their star actresses, including Doris Simeon, IyaboOjo, Ayo Adesanya, MosunFilani, Mercy Aigbe, Mide Martins, FunkeAkindele, Lizzy Anjorin, FathiaBalogun, Bukky Wright and others.

For viewers who enjoy the news and economic development in Western Nigeria, there is IroyinImole produced in collaboration with Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). TIATA will cover exciting plays and movies that extol the Yoruba traditions and culture. We also have African fashion show showcasing Yoruba wardrobes, hairdos and makeovers on the KhabiratKafidipe show. Celebration of an Icon will showcase in a chronological order, daily, the works of the celebrated actresses who will also share on influence and experiences. For movie lovers, Weekend Nights is dedicated to Classic Yoruba Movies while Sunday Nights is for Movie Premiere.

“ST Yoruba will also through high quality and diverse programmes, highlights social issues such as politics, love, marriage, social vices and unrest, youthful exuberances and developmental issues. ST Yoruba will also help in propagating Yoruba heritage, values, virtues and norms and redirect the perceptions, views and knowledge of the next generation,” Kafar said.