Clint Brown
As part of measures to help curb the spread of Covid-19 and its impact on the African continent, satellite giant, SES, has launched its free-to-air channel, Fight Covid-19.
Clint Brown, Vice-President of Sales & Market Development for SES Video in Africa, disclosed that the channel “is broadcast on three satellites serving Africa and is dedicated to delivering reliable, essential and informative content about the COVID-19 pandemic.”
It broadcasts content that is aimed at providing underserved and rural communities with critical information about how to limit the spread of the virus. The content, which is provided courtesy of trusted organisations such as UNICEF and AFP, also aims to educate TV viewers about identifying Covid-19 symptoms and the recovery process.
According to Clint Brown, the channel has become necessary because many people have been left stranded without reliable access to critical information in this time of crisis.
“The whole world has been completely disrupted by Covid-19 in 2020, and unfortunately, the pandemic does not seem to be ending anytime soon. For some countries and regions, however, the level of disruption has been disproportionately severe, leaving many people stranded without reliable access to critical information in this time of crisis. This has emphasized the need for quality content and the role that satellite TV plays in providing widespread access to information,” he emphasized.
“In sub-Saharan Africa where 59 per cent of its 1.1 billion population live in often hard-to-reach rural areas. This, however, is where satellites are able to make the most difference and can play an informative role in combating the Covid-19 pandemic. The ubiquitous coverage provided by satellites ensures that vulnerable communities, no matter where they are situated, have access to critical news and information, through either free-to-air (FTA), free-to-view (FTV) or pay TV platforms. We are broadcasting a FTA TV channel via SES satellites to millions of households across Africa,” Clint Brown indicated.