Next Media’s television brands continue to strengthen their position in Uganda’s highly competitive television industry, with the latest research by Market Intelligence Group placing both NBS TV and Sanyuka TV among the country’s leading television stations.

In the vernacular television category, Sanyuka TV has climbed to second position, narrowly behind long-established market leader Bukedde TV.

The ranking signals a significant rise for Sanyuka, which has built its proposition around a distinctly Ugandan entertainment experience targeting a younger, increasingly digital audience.

Sanyuka’s growth is being driven by an aggressive entertainment-first strategy from live concerts and major entertainment events to breaking and trending celebrity stories, gossip, music and social media conversations.

At the centre of that strategy is a strong line-up of television personalities, including Sandra Lian, Senga Nantume, Kalela, Mukunja and Ann Taylor, who have helped give the station a distinct personality and stronger connection with its audience.

The rise of Sanyuka is particularly significant because it shows how a vernacular station can compete by moving beyond traditional programming and becoming a daily destination for entertainment, celebrity culture and live experiences.

Meanwhile, NBS TV continues to lead the English-speaking television category in Uganda, further cementing Next Media’s position across different audience segments.

NBS TV’s strength has been built around its ability to be “live everywhere and anywhere”, with a strong reputation for breaking news, live coverage and being first on major national stories.

Its extensive news operation and ability to take audiences directly to the centre of events have continued to make it a major force in Uganda’s television market.

The latest rankings therefore present an interesting picture of the Next Media portfolio: NBS TV leading in English-language television while Sanyuka TV rapidly closes the gap in the vernacular space.

And the bigger story may be Sanyuka’s trajectory.
Bukedde may still hold the No.1 position, but Sanyuka’s rapid rise suggests the vernacular television battle is getting increasingly competitive and entertainment is proving to be one of the biggest weapons in that fight.