Editor,

Your publication issue number No 1904 carried a letter to the editor titled "RTV is becoming an embarrassment.” It is our feeling that clarifications be made about this letter.

The mentioned reality show, Tusker Project Fame 3 airing on Rwanda Television is based on the agreement between Citizen TV of Kenya and ORINFOR.

In this agreement, Citizen TV reserves the rights to advertise during the show though Rwandan businesses are also free to advertise during the program.

The agreement further requires the sister broadcasters, including Rwanda Television, to air the program as it is packaged by Citizen TV.

This precludes any editing whatsoever. Other broadcasters airing this program in the region are Uganda Broadcasting Corporation and Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation.

The latter air the show live, however the timing of the show coincides with Rwanda TV evening news.
Hence Rwanda TV pre-records the program.

It is important to note that though we have been calling for local businesses to take this opportunity to advertise, to date no one has shown any interest.

The writer should understand that, a TV station cannot invent adverts. Moreover, products being advertised by companies in Kenya do not in any way harm Rwandan viewers who today are part of the bigger East African community. What’s more, several Rwandans are contestants in the show.

We also would like to let it be known that it is our established practice to tag our programs "recorded” when they are not "live”. That particular Sunday cited, must have been an exception.

Much as we welcome all forms of constructive criticism, it is worth noting that the writer’s lack of information led to unwarranted assertions.

Allow me to take this opportunity to remind our esteemed viewers that the staff of Rwanda Television remain committed to serving our viewers in line with the mission of the public broadcaster.

Management RTV