From a very young age, Fatoumata Fofana Bastard
was destined for a career in business. After a few years in the performing arts, she entered the world of audiovisual media out of love.
"When your partner is passionate about something, it's hard to escape it."
During her fifteen years in Paris, she had the opportunity to work in audiovisual production and public relations before moving to Côte d'Ivoire in 2011 and founding ABS.
Can you give us a brief overview of your company's history?
My husband and I had always wanted to settle in Côte d'Ivoire. We had been thinking about it since 1999, but it wasn't until 2011 that the project really took off. A friend of ours, a production manager (who has since passed away), was convinced that it was a good idea and introduced us to an investment company to finance the project, and the funding round was quickly set up. All that remained was an initial opportunity to get started, which came in 2012.
How would you describe ABS's activities today?
ABS is an audiovisual service provider, offering a full range of services such as control rooms, satellite transmission, fly control rooms, news cameras, multi-camera editing, studios, lighting, and sound.
We provide additional equipment and/or personnel for the complete production of a live television program or program delivered via P.A.D., including all intermediate stages.
Our clients are mainly producers and television channels, but we also work with institutions, providing services for conferences and trade shows.
You are based in Côte d'Ivoire, but do you operate in other countries?
Yes, we mainly operate in West Africa, but we have had the opportunity to work several times in Ethiopia, Gabon, and Congo.
What are your ambitions in terms of development?
In 2020, we are launching the construction of our headquarters at Vitib in Grand Bassam to increase our storage (equipment and sets) and post-production capacities. We will have a 400-square-meter studio equipped with dressing rooms and a collaborative space to better accommodate our clients, as well as a set construction workshop.
Over the next two years, we hope to double our production capacity.
We remain very attentive to our clients in order to anticipate our investments and maintain the flexibility that characterizes us.
How do you perceive the arrival of digital terrestrial television and new private channels?
There is undoubtedly a sense of emulation surrounding the creation of these new channels.
Let's wait and see.