BY ABIDGAIL MERTA GANGGANG and ELLISIA TINGGAS
KUCHING: State-owned TVS, has been making waves since its inception on October 10, 2020, under the management of Sarawak Media Group (SMG).
Where coverage on Sarawak was once confined to brief regional news segments, TVS now offers viewers across the nation a rich array of creative content from the region.
In just over two years, the television station has amassed an impressive viewership of 9.8 million people nationwide.
The growing popularity of TVS is further amplified by its social media presence, boasting a substantial following of 1.24 million across various social media platforms.
New Sarawak Tribune managed to speak with Mohd Dzulfrizal Zulkapli, Chief Executive Officer of TVS to share some insights on the remarkable journey of TVS.
New Sarawak Tribune: What line of work were you engaged in before this role?
Mohd Dzulfrizal: Prior to my involvement in the media industry, I had a career as a gallery curator at a private gallery. Around 2004, I joined a small communications firm in Kelana Jaya, led by Suhaimi Sulaiman.
I spent two years there before joining Astro Awani in 2007. I was one of the earliest team members and was involved in the setting up of the news channel.
We had to start from scratch. There were no computers or internet connection available during the first few weeks.
For the first three months, we gathered and trained to become journalists and news anchors. There, I started off as a journalist and then promoted to junior editor, and later became the “Morning Lead” at Astro Awani.
I left Astro in October 2021 and I joined Khazanah Nasional Berhad in November 2021 as the Vice President of Strategic Communications. As a communication professional, I learned a lot about communications, writing and collaborating with other managers and departments.
It was essential to understand the entire business, not just the communication aspect. It was about becoming a channel for communication between the company and external stakeholders.
NST: What is a typical day like for you as a CEO?
Mohd Dzulfrizal: It is an incredibly interesting and enjoyable experience to work with a group of young, intelligent and dedicated people. They are energetic and always bring forth numerous ideas and opportunities to strive for the best.
I genuinely appreciate the energy of young individuals as they work tirelessly. They conduct research, prepare reports and learn quickly. I thoroughly enjoy working at TVS.
Most of the employees here are around 30 to 35-years-old or younger and there are very few employees over the age of 40. So we are aware of and follow the latest trends and select those that align with our channel. Staying relevant in the ever-changing media landscape is crucial for us.
As decision-makers, we need to choose which programmes or ideas are suitable for our channel. This is a decision we have to make every day. We always find ways to execute and incorporate those ideas.
NST: What are the challenges you face as Chief Executive Officer?
Mohd Dzulfrizal: The biggest challenge for me is striving to find time to watch and assess various television programmes. It is crucial to stay informed about the latest trends and new programmes that are highly favoured by the viewers out there.
I still remember growing up when shows like ‘L.A. Law’ and ‘The West Wing’, which were politically themed programmes, were only watched by our parents or those involved in the profession.
These days, you see Korean hit drama series around these themes and younger people are also watching them.
This made me ponder that if such programmes gained attention, they must possess a formula that resonated with the audience. Therefore, the challenge for me lies in uncovering the formula they use.
As part of the management team, we need to collectively explore how we can create programmes that appeal to all viewers, regardless of their spoken language.
Take for instance, programmes in the Iban language. So, the question is how we can make these programmes globally attractive and enjoyable for viewers.
We are not just competing with television stations in Malaysia, but on a global scale too. Television programmes nowadays transcend borders and are not limited to a single country.
NST: Can you provide an overview of the programmes and shows available on TVS?
Mohd Dzulfrizal: TVS offers a diverse range of programme themes and genres that cater not only to viewers in Sarawak but also to audiences from across the country.
Some of the programme genres available on TVS include News, Documentary, Magazine, Travelogue, Drama, Musical, Reality Shows and Talk Shows.
I am proud of our news programmes. We have news bulletins in four languages that are broadcast daily, which are Malay, Iban, English and Mandarin. We also have dedicated teams working hard to produce these news bulletins, covering news from within Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia and even international news.
I take pride in our team because they provide the Sarawakian point of view. I consider this important because most states in other regions do not have their own television stations.
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One of the approaches to content creation involves producing content exclusively within the studio. We engage in thorough research and collect information pertaining to the programme being developed, followed by the creation of content within the studio environment.
For example, we conduct interviews with experts in a particular field to discuss relevant content.
For programmes like Hari Gawai and Pesta Kaul celebrations, we need to conduct research while sending a team to the field to capture videos and take visually appealing shots.
It also allows them to experience the atmosphere first-hand. Then, these materials are then brought back to the studio for editing and subsequently, broadcast.
NST: Is the production of programmes involving Sarawak’s culture, language, and ethnicity considered inclusive?
Mohd Dzulfrizal: I find that ‘representation’ captures it better. Before, we rarely saw the faces of the Bidayuh, Iban, Ulu, Kenyah and other ethnic groups on television.
Now we are making every effort to ensure that their cultures, customs, traditions and languages are represented on television. So this is the vision and mission of TVS.
Firstly, we want to make Sarawak a content hub for Southeast Asia, while at the same time developing the creative workforce in the industry in Sarawak. For example, ‘Pemerindang Borneo’.
Maybe a few years ago, many Iban songs were released on YouTube, but now we have programmes that can do the same. In fact, we have ‘Pemerindang Borneo Season 2’ and we are also planning a Gawai concert.
So the representation I mentioned means that we see people who speak, celebrate festivals and share the same religion on television.
This is important, and we hope to carry out initiatives like these and gain support from various viewers, social media users and digital throughout Malaysia.
This is something that Sarawakians should be proud of because not every state has its own television station.
So TVS provides diverse content and fresh programme ideas for viewers out there. We also hope that this will continue in the long term.
NST: In the next three years, what goals do you aim to achieve?
Mohd Dzulfrizal: Our goal is to increase viewership, and achieve a good viewership rating by producing the best programmes for the audience.
An upcoming programme will be released which is the ‘Kembara Merdeka Sarawak’ (Sarawak Independence Journey) that coincides with the 60th anniversary of Sarawak’s independence.
We will deliver the best coverage from twelve different locations, bringing the programme to the television screens of those who are unable to visit certain areas like Limbang and Kapit.
We hope that viewers will tune in to TVS and enjoy the programmes without needing to be physically present at the locations. It is a truly exciting endeavour.
However, within the next three years, our goal is to increase TVS’ exposure, ensuring that more people know where to find and watch our programmes in the long run.
To make this a reality, we need to produce high-quality programmes that entertain, inform and captivate the audience. We want to deliver visually appealing content that entertains and evokes emotions, leaving viewers touched and moved when they watch television.
NST: What advice would you give to individuals aspiring to work in the media industry?
Mohd Dzulfrizal: Reading. It is crucial to read extensively and write frequently. Reading and writing should be part of your daily routine.
Keep a journal or articles you have written, and review what you have written. Over time, you might not realise that your writing technique has changed.
Read and absorb every piece of information as if there is no tomorrow, as if you are hungry for knowledge.
Also, read a wide range of topics because it helps you write better with more information and facts that help to increase your confidence in writing.
After excelling in these two areas, you will have the courage to be in front of the camera and no one dares to judge you because you can read and deliver information exceptionally well.
Reading and writing can make you highly regarded because you can tell stories effectively, and people will listen.
