It's now a traditional event. Michel Mutumbo-Cartier, what does the new season hold in store for the A+ and A+ IVOIRE programs?
A+ Ivoire is doing very well: it is the number one channel, a must-see in the hearts of Ivorians. This year, we have prepared a season that promises to be exciting, with rich and varied programming, new shows, new series, and of course, the flagship programs that have made us so successful.
Let's break it all down, starting with your new programs…:
We are launching a brand new program: "VIENS CHEZ MOI" (Come to my place), a new discovery magazine presented by Christy. An immersive journey to meet Ivorian personalities who have agreed to open their doors and tell us about their Côte d'Ivoire. They set challenges related to local specificities for our host, who must rise to them. This program is broadcast every Sunday at 3:30 p.m. and lasts 52 minutes.
On Sunday afternoons, we will also broadcast a new 26-minute program called "LE MARACANA SHOW," in which eight university teams from Ivory Coast will compete each week in a maracana tournament (six-a-side soccer played on a handball court) to win the first trophy up for grabs.
Presented and commented on by Djakan and Carlos Koundé, "THE MARACANA SHOW" airs every Sunday at 4:55 p.m. and will continue until the final, which will be broadcast in December.
And of course, every Sunday at 6 p.m., we continue to broadcast the best matches of the Ivorian Ligue 1 championship.
Beyond these new developments, how are the channel's flagship programs evolving?
"DEFEND YOUR 50,000 F" broadcast Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. will continue, but we are making the show even more exciting by increasing the prize money: participants who have won 50,000 F will have the chance to win up to 100,000 CFA francs every day.
You don't change a winning team, and that's certainly true for the new season of "ON SE DIT LES GBE": Brice Guibré will continue to host and moderate the debates, where everyone has the opportunity to defend their opinions. With new guests and the same freedom of speech, this program continues to offer exciting and lively discussions on topics that interest Ivorians. Tune in at 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In terms of fiction, what are the major series expected this year?
In our Creation section, which begins every day at 3:00 p.m., our aim is both to build on our existing strengths and to continue to discover new producers and new series from across Africa.
We will therefore be broadcasting season 2 of "MAIDA," a series from Mozambique, the first season of which we broadcast in the late evening and which was a success.
For us, it was a test because we didn't know how Portuguese-language series would be received by the Ivorian audience. It has been so successful that we are currently working on another series from Mozambique. We also have agreements with SABC, the South African public broadcaster, which produces action series that work well on our channel.
Our two flagship shows for the new season are "LA BATAILLE DES CHERIES" (The Battle of the Sweethearts), directed by Ebenezer Kepombia and filmed in Douala, which tells the story of Elie Mba, a married and influential man who is unfaithful to his wife Fatima, cheating on her with several other women, and who finds himself faced with all kinds of problems when each of them decides to fight for his heart. This 110-episode series will be broadcast in two parts.
Starting in October, we will also see the return of the series "Les coups de la vie" (Life's blows), which uses an original programming concept, as each story is told over the course of a week and reaches its conclusion on Friday.
This series by Franck Viehi, produced by Lully Grace Production, draws inspiration from the short stories of Anzata Ouatara to offer authentic and unique stories featuring characters marked by events that changed the course of their lives.
We called upon a range of actors: the "old guard" as well as a whole new generation of actors from Cameroon, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal.
You launched a musical series last year. Will there be a second season?
Indeed, we will be working with Alex again on season 2 of "LA DERNIERE VOIX" (The Last Voice), our musical series straddling reality and fiction, focusing on new musical talent with a new cast.
As with the first season, viewers will choose the winner. We will produce at least 52 episodes and will likely work with another record label this year.
The Ivorian TV advertising market is stagnating when compared to the healthy state of the TV advertising market in Senegal. However, Ivorian channels are enjoying strong audience figures. How can this trend, which could jeopardize the financing of private Ivorian channels, be countered?
A+ Ivoire is the most listened to radio station in Ivory Coast, and we are very pleased with the audience figures.
We believe that a unified audience measurement system could be an important factor in reassuring Ivorian advertisers. A joint effort by television channels to raise awareness among advertisers of the advantages of television would also be an excellent initiative because, compared to other media favored by advertisers such as billboards, TV offers power and national coverage, image and sound, and proven effectiveness in improving brand awareness, image, and sales.
We probably don't say it enough.