My ETV dream
October 31, 2008 at 2:16 pm 4 comments
ETV has made a couple of changes in the new Ethiopian year. It’s changed its name (from ETV to ERTA – Ethiopia Radio and Television Agency), it’s logo (from bluish to redish) and it’s broadcast time (from 12 hours to 15 hours a day). Not to mention the controversial transfer of Tigrigna and Oromiffa Programs to the respective States making some wonder if Arabic and French (launched through ETV2) were more important to the Federal government than the above two major Ethiopian languages.
Infact, the only area ETV/ERTA hasn’t looked into hoping to affect change seems to be in Staff quality. Products of the “Meserete Timhirt” generation and still functioning with what I call “YeQebele mentality”, these people seem to be telling us to “take it or leave it” when they aren’t trying to educate us. I know not all Ethiopians run a blog and think the movie “Hermela” was a waste of time and good money. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the best they can get, does it?
Now, semi binor, I’d have liked to see these changes take place on ETV/ERTA:
Cut out or Minimize:
1. The same old BeInstrumental yetaJeBu “nature shows”
2. Mindless and “yeCheretu” sitcomes like “My 3 sisters” and “Acapulco Bay ” or National Geography documentaries from the 1960’s that run for the 100th times
3. Developmental journalism programs with “yeFeTeTe” Political agendas
4. Traditional songs by Gish Abaai Kinet from the 1980’s that still make the tv set feel like a torture chamber
Put in or Have More of:
5. Sitcoms
6. “Zena Tintena”
7. Poetry readings, literary discourses, documentaries on Ethiopia’s literary giants
8. A smile on news anchor woman Hawlet Ahmed’s face
Entry filed under: Latest Posts.
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1.
Carlos | November 3, 2008 at 2:19 pm
When I stayed here, some people said me nobody watch ETV. It`s really thus?
I saw satellite dishes in everywhere (in poor houses, too) and a lot of arabic channels.
2.
abesheet | November 4, 2008 at 8:09 am
You are right, Carlos. All of my relatives, even those outside Addis and can’t afford to spare a penny, have got a Satellite receiver in their house these days. And many people swear they wouldn’t watch ETV if they could help it. I believe it’s all a post-1997 reaction (you know, the 2005 national election that didn’t go as well as most of us hoped). Before the election, people watched TV and read newspapers like nobody’s business. Because people they loved and trusted to bring change about had as much share on it as can be expected in a developing African country. After the result and the riot, the disappointment and heart-break, people turned to movies and satellite dishes not just because ETV started airing programs that are anti-opposition party but sometimes downright false. Now that it has punished whom it wanted to punish, and there doesn’t seem to be an immediate threat to its authority on the horizon, the government seem busy trying to win the people over. That’s where all ethnic groups (with a special focus to the South people) comes from. They feel it’s just a lip-service.
Now, if it were to actually bring development and kick poverty out, it may win some of them back. Next to the war, the corruption and lack of good governance, that looks almost like a pipe dream. The problem with African leaders, I think, is once they come to power, they start viewing the word “democracy” & “right” as “enemy”. It suddenly becomes the interest of those who don’t want them to stay in power, the West or Aid agencies. But without democracy, you can’t have good governance. Without good governance, no development can be achieved. No development results in poverty and dissatisfaction. Creating enmity between the people and the government that administers it. So the government has more to lose than gain by being undemocratic. Anywho, that’s my UNEXPERT opinion. Just a feeling really!
3.
Ras X | November 4, 2008 at 1:37 pm
One great mistake the news channels fed us was trying to sell the notion of the Next President and thier wives becoming our King and Queen. No doubt we took a fat bite of it. Guilty as charged. This is one of the exact same things that the masons and colonists were trying to escape. Here we are 3 centuries later with our foot in our mouths. Times have changed though. Not enough as it is our desire to be in AWW of one man and his wife. Now we are at a crisis, and we expect someone to save us. Maybe we’ll ask them to leap a building in a single bound too.
Forget what I heard on the news about these guys, I feel the exact opposite is true from what is portrayed. With everyone glued to the telly, and not wanting to listen to my nonsense, here you go:
The one who stole the scene is not a one of us that is smaking our soup coolers at every ugly turn this election unfolds. Its our childrens’ childrens’ childrens’. Best case scenario for both of these guys:
McCain:
Dies in office. Someone else takes the reins, and says, we’re going to have to wait for someone who knows what’s going on. It turns into Cowboys and Indians.
outcome is not my cup of tea
Obama:
The tax rate for anyone and anything making $250,000 to -whatever the next tax bracket is- a year gets put into the next tax bracket automatically. That’s about going from paying $87,000 a year to $125,000 a year. B.O. would say its time to be patriotic, get to work. Guess who is going to be all butt-hurt. Those making less than $250,000 would not get a penny increase according to his promise. I make about as much as poverty and a half. So I have no problems right. Wrong.
I’d tell Obama to break his promise, tax me the same amount, if not more. All the way until our economy is back on track. Let the people in on the progress. Peanut butter sandwhiches with cold water until I turn into a peanut plant. I don’t want to see the inside of a restaraunt unless I’m working in one. Call it Depression 2K 8, 9, 10. I don’t care. Is it not better than kicking the can of responsibility to the next generation. I’d risk it all if I could(I’d have to run it by my girl first).
I feel ya abesheet
4.
Carlos | November 4, 2008 at 1:48 pm
It`s a very brave opinion. Reading your answer about the poeples actitud front the ETV I remenber the last years of the Franco’s dictatorship, here in Spain. Its a problem about credibility and a feeling of emotional scam.
Another day, if you want, I would like read about how the post election beat in the people and how can influence the in 2010 elections. The first time we stay in Addis, to adopt tow of our three sons, was just after the electoral riots. I found a lot of people sad, but perhaps some resigned.
OK, thanks a lot. I think I can leanr o lot of thing about Ethiopia and Ethiopians reading post like yours.