Mahanga TV, a new Hausa-language media platform, has launched in Kano, Nigeria, with a focus on news, current affairs, drama, film, culture, and entertainment. The platform, operating under Mahanga Media and Productions Ltd., combines television broadcasting with digital content production and online distribution. Mahanga TV is available as a Free-to-Air television service on the Amos-17 satellite, broadcasting a mix of original productions and other Hausa-language programming.
The launch of Mahanga TV adds another player to Nigeria's growing media industry, particularly in the Northern region, where Hausa remains an important language for news, entertainment, and cultural programming. According to Nuhu Abdullahi Balarabe, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mahanga TV, the platform emerged from a desire to provide greater visibility for stories, talent, and cultural perspectives from Northern Nigeria.
Balarabe stated that Mahanga TV was established from a deep conviction that Northern Nigeria has a wealth of stories, talent, culture, and perspectives that deserve to be told with professionalism, creativity, and global relevance. The platform will combine broadcast technology with original storytelling and programming covering current affairs, drama, film, music, culture, and entertainment.
Mahanga TV's published program slate includes talk shows, current-affairs programs, drama, feature films, music, and cultural content. The platform lists programs such as Labaran Yau, Sahel Circle, Kano After Dark, and Arewa Dialogues, as well as Mahanga Newshour, Northern Report, Frontline, and Market Day. The company's drama productions will draw on Hausa and Fulani cultural experiences, with writers, directors, and actors from Northern Nigeria involved in its productions.
Mahanga TV has invested in production facilities at its Farm Centre, Tarauni, Kano location, including television studios, editing and post-production suites, audio recording booths, a live-streaming control room, meeting rooms, and high-speed internet facilities. The company has also listed high-definition cameras, professional lighting, audio equipment, live-streaming systems, editing facilities, and broadcast transmission equipment among its production resources.
The company plans to deepen its digital presence as audiences increasingly consume news and entertainment through smartphones, social media, and streaming platforms. A dedicated mobile application for iOS and Android is currently under development, allowing users to watch programs, receive updates, and access Mahanga TV content on mobile devices.
The emergence of Mahanga TV could provide another platform for creatives in Northern Nigeria, including journalists, filmmakers, actors, musicians, presenters, writers, and producers. The platform's identity is captured in its corporate tagline, "Born in Kano. Built for the world." Its launch marks the latest development in Nigeria's expanding broadcast and digital media sector, while placing Hausa-language storytelling, Northern culture, and regional creative talent at the center of its programming strategy.
Key points
- Mahanga TV launches as a Hausa-language media platform in Kano, Nigeria, targeting a global audience with news, current affairs, drama, film, culture, and entertainment.
