What this life looks like
You make television happen. Television Producers oversee the development and production of TV programmes — from the first idea through to broadcast. You manage budgets, schedules, creative teams, and broadcaster relationships to deliver compelling content. Africa's television market — driven by DStv, free-to-air broadcasters, and streaming platforms — is one of the continent's most dynamic creative industries.
What she actually does
You develop programme concepts and pitch them to commissioners, manage production budgets and schedules, hire directors, writers, and crew, oversee casting, manage relationships with broadcast commissioners, ensure programmes are delivered on time and to required technical standards, and handle the legal and contractual aspects of production.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Production Companies | EbonyLife TV, Qualiflow Films (Nigeria), Burnt Orange (SA), Ginger Carter Productions (Kenya) |
| Broadcasters | Africa Magic / MultiChoice, SABC, NTA Nigeria, GTV Ghana, KTN Kenya — commission and co-produce content |
| Streaming Platforms | Showmax (Africa), Netflix Africa, Amazon Prime Africa — original content commissioning |
| Advertising Production | Commercial production companies producing TVC content — steady, well-paid production work |
Why it matters in Africa
MultiChoice/DStv's Africa Magic channels, Showmax, and an expanding base of free-to-air broadcasters are collectively commissioning hundreds of hours of African original content annually. Pan-African co-productions are growing. Reality TV, scripted drama, and factual entertainment are all in high demand. African television producers who understand audiences from Lagos to Nairobi to Johannesburg are extraordinarily valuable.
Your pathway in
- Study Media Studies, Film Production, or Mass Communication at university
- Start as a production assistant or runner on television productions — learning from the ground up is the industry norm
- Progress through runner → researcher → assistant producer → producer career stages
- Develop financial management skills — budgeting is a core producer competence
- Build a strong creative network of directors, writers, and crew you can assemble for productions
Skills you will need
- Production budgeting and scheduling
- Creative development
- Team leadership
- Commissioner relationships
- Editorial judgement
- Contracts and rights management
A woman in this field
Mo Abudu
Nigeria
Mo is the founder and CEO of EbonyLife Media — Nigeria's most successful television and film production company. She created 'Moments with Mo,' Nigeria's first nationally syndicated talk show, before building EbonyLife into a studio that has produced Nollywood's highest-grossing films including 'The Wedding Party' and 'Chief Daddy.' Forbes has named her one of Africa's most powerful women, and she has signed landmark content deals with Netflix, Sony, and BBC Studios — bringing African stories to global audiences.
Take your first step
- Watch Mo Abudu's TED Talk and interviews on YouTube — her story of building EbonyLife from a talk show is one of Africa's great entrepreneurial journeys
- Research what a production budget looks like — search for 'film production budget template' and study how money is allocated across a production
- Contact production companies in your city and ask about work experience or runner positions during school holidays
- Develop a television programme concept — write a one-page pitch document describing the show, its audience, and why it should exist
Careers close to this one
- Filmmaker/Director
- Screenwriter
- Broadcast Journalist
- Documentary Filmmaker
- Marketing Manager