African music television channel MTV base is to notch up a programming first by securing exclusive in-depth access to British Prime Minister Tony Blair during his forthcoming trip to Africa. Titled 'MTV base Meets Tony Blair', the programme will be shot in Johannesburg during the PM's trip to South Africa, giving African youth a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the British Prime Minister and the former G8 Chair.
The network will be training its lenses on Blair during his forthcoming visit to attend the Progressive Governance summit meeting in Johannesburg, 11-12 February.
'MTV base Meets Tony Blair' will take the form of a 30-minute question-and-answer session with Tony Blair, taped in Johannesburg 'as live' and involving participation from young people from different African nations. The candid discussion is likely to cover 'hot' topics facing African youth such as the ongoing trade vs aid debate, poverty, population growth, education, the image of Africa in the 'Western' world, intellectual property issues, healthcare, media freedom, democracy, climate change and the ending of export subsidies. The programme will be intercut with interviews with the individual 'panelists'.
'MTV base Meets Tony Blair' will be hosted by Tim Kash, 23-year old presenter of MTV News on MTV UK & Ireland, and a veteran newshound with a track record of interviewing high profile public figures on issues ranging from climate control to gun crime. Subjects he has interviewed include Live Aid founder Sir Bob Geldof, anti-gun campaigner Diane Abbot MP, and Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. In early 2005, Tim fronted MTV's documentary coverage featuring survivors from the Tsunami for an MTV documentary that aired globally.
Commented Alex Okosi, General Manager and Vice President, MTV Networks Africa, "More than 50% of the estimated 800 million people who live on the African continent are under the age of 24. If Africa is to take its rightful place in world affairs, it's important that our young people - the African leaders of the future - are able to voice their own views and concerns about the world, from a distinctly African perspective. It's a pretty rare experience for anyone to get an opportunity to engage in open dialogue with one of the world's leaders, and we're delighted that 'MTV base Meets Tony Blair' will provide this opportunity for African youth to engage with Mr Blair on topics that matter to them and the African continent as a whole."
'MTV base Meets Tony Blair' will be recorded 'as live' in Johannesburg on Sunday 12th February and will be broadcast across Africa on MTV base at 21:00 CAT (Central African Time) on 6 March 2006. UK TV channel MTV UK & Ireland will air short news bulletins focusing on the discussion hourly from 16:00 pm GMT on Tuesday 14 February, together with half hourly bulletins on MTV base (UK) from 17:50 pm. MTV base (Africa) will also air the bulletins hourly from 20:00 C.A.T on Tuesday 14 February.
MTV base was launched in Africa on 22 February 2005. Approaching its first year of operations, MTV base (Africa) is Africa's most widely distributed youth and music channel, reaching 40 million households in sub-Saharan Africa via a combination of satellite, terrestrial and MMDS distribution. Airing music and youth entertainment relevant to young Africans, MTV base has quickly penetrated into the heart of African consciousness, by combining the best African and international music within the signature MTV graphic environment. MTV base celebrates its first birthday on 22 February 2006.
