The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national
and international interest.
Hate it or love it, the highly-controversial all-girls reality TV Nairobi Diaries has brought with it a new revolution in the local media. As some dismissed it as a good for nothing hype show comprising of wannabe celebrities in the name of socialites, new media believers saw a new dawn in local reality TV.
Just like most young, talented and ambitious creatives have been using the new media to pitch their ideas and also reach out to their peers, Nairobi Diaries started on YouTube, a low-cost shoot that only featured socialites, their daily wars and hustles. The show still carries the same theme.
Before long, the show that featured leading socialites like Vera, who has since left to start her own show, Stacy Pendo, fashionista Silvia Njoki, Marjolein Blokland, Getrude Murunga, Kiki Diang’a and Ella Ciiru found home at K24 even as rumor went round that KTN was pitching for it.
And now, after two seasoned and continued popularity, Nairobi Diaries has now moved to the new TV Cosmopolitan, the latest urban TV in town that has a bias towards new media productions targeting the youth.
At the same time, Mombasa Diaries, a copycat of Nairobi Diaries that is featuring Mombasa showbiz wig wigs and socialites among them Beyoncé.
“We were inspired by what Nairobi Diaries is doing and that is why we started Mombasa Diaries. It is a drama series that features popular names in the Mombasa entertainment arena as well as some acts from Nairobi, some of whom have been key in Nairobi Diaries production,” Beyoncé told Pulse when she came for the grand launch that was hosted in uptown Nairobi on Monday.
“The youth are slowly moving from traditional TV, from local productions that do not reflect their daily life. They want to experience their world, socialize, make money and have fun in life,” she adds.
Mombasa Diaries is expected to give Nairobi Diaries a run for its money.
It is the first reality TV show to be led by leading showbiz personalities in Mombasa, a region that is currently seeking a showbiz awakening.
“Yes, I have heard of Mombasa Diaries. The likes of Beyonce came to do a shoot during one of my shows. I think it is a good thing for the Mombasa showbiz industry,” DJ Lenium one of the leading showbiz acts in Mombasa told Pulse.
“The youth are looking for more youthful content that is unique to them and that is what contemporary TV is not giving them. The new so called home made shows, most of which are purely on YouTube are becoming a hit. The cheese has moved,” Observed Brian, a local actor.
join