What does PUZZLE Media do?
PUZZLE MEDIA is an audiovisual production company. Before the liberalization of the audiovisual sector, we were in the brand content segment (producing content for brands) because TV was the only medium available and was unfortunately saturated. When the audiovisual sector was liberalized, we returned to our core business of producing content for television channels. And our experience in brand content ultimately allows us to intelligently integrate brands into and around these programs.
You have just produced a new show called "Moins un." Can you tell us more about it?
MOINS UN is the very first news-style program in Côte d'Ivoire. MOINS UN is a docu-fiction program that recounts how different people have had close encounters with death. The program is inspired by true stories that are reenacted with actors.
MOINS UN is a test project that will offer something different to Ivorian viewers, but also help us better understand their tastes and expectations for this type of program.
How will this program be different from what is currently being done?
This program is the first of its kind in the Ivorian audiovisual landscape. The testimonials are authentic, and the stories are part of people's real-life experiences. In producing the program, we really wanted to maintain a sense of closeness. With each broadcast, the reactions on social media attest to the program's success. With this program, we are reaffirming our positioning and opening the door to other programs of this kind that we are currently producing. At PUZZLE MEDIA, we have the expertise, the technical resources, and above all, the human resources to create programs that meet international standards.
How is it broadcast?
The program MOINS UN!!! is broadcast first on LIFE TV. We have received offers from VOD platforms for second broadcasts in Ivory Coast, which we are still considering. Internationally, Cameroon and Burkina Faso have also expressed interest.
What is your view on the development of new DTT channels in Côte d'Ivoire?
The new TV channels are rich in human resources and programming.
The potential is there, but the private audiovisual industry is not yet strong enough. Advertisers are key players in the development of the creative industry in Côte d'Ivoire. The production of quality programs relies on financial, technical, and human resources. These resources can only be obtained through budget; in the economic model of local channels, the contribution of advertisers is crucial to the life of the channel and its programming schedule. Advertisers, for example, need to be more aware of their role and importance in financing this creative industry through advertising and private DTT channels. The more support these channels receive from advertisers, the more they will be able to try new things with program producers like us.
As producers, we also face challenges beyond the financial. Unfortunately, the education system has not taken creative professions into account, and the tax authorities are unfamiliar with the sector… Today, we professionals in the sector suffer from this lack of understanding of our professions. The future of the audiovisual landscape depends on us, so we need to be taken seriously and involved in the decisions that affect us. But I am confident that all this will improve. When each of the players realizes their importance in the sector, we will have one of the most creative and prolific industries on the continent.
Any other production projects in the pipeline?
We have just completed two seasons of the series LES HISTOIRES DE RORO. As a reminder, this program is one of the biggest hits in terms of series made in Côte d'Ivoire in terms of ratings, writing, and production.
We are in the process of preparing two other series, three studio programs, two news programs, and a reality TV show…
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