By Sir Dean Lubowa Saava
TV10 Gano Mazima
Feature Desk
Naguru Powerhouse- Eighteen years ago, Uganda’s media space was slow, formal, and dominated by a few traditional players. Today, it is fast, digital, and youth-driven. And at the heart of that revolution is Next Media.
What started in 2007 as a single television station has grown into Uganda’s biggest independent media group, changing how Ugandans watch news, listen to music, and follow sports and entertainment.
THE BEGINNING: NBS TV AND A BOLD GAMBLE
Next Media launched with NBS TV. The mission was clear: build a television station that looked international but spoke Ugandan. At a time when most broadcasters played it safe, NBS TV bet on young journalists, modern studios, and aggressive news coverage.
The gamble paid off. NBS TV quickly became the go-to channel for breaking news, hard-hitting talk shows, and live events that defined national conversations.
EXPANSION: RADIO, SPORTS, AND DIGITAL
Next Media did not stop at television.It rolled out Next Radio with stations, and regional brands like Nile FM to capture different audiences across the country.
It then moved early into digital — building websites like Nile Post, apps like Afro.Mobile, and a massive social media presence while competitors were still debating Facebook.
The group also created new brands: NBS Sport for live football and athletics, Sanyuka TV for entertainment, and Salam TV for faith and family audiences.
CHANGING UGANDA’S MEDIA CULTURE
In 18 years, Next Media shifted three things permanently: Talent: It became a factory for young presenters, reporters, and creatives now leading across the industry. Production: From Uncut, The Next Big Thing, to Tusker Malt Conversessions, it raised standards for lighting, sets, and storytelling. Business: It proved Ugandan media could host national events, attract corporate brands, and sell content across TV, radio, and digital simultaneously.
THE BATTLES ALONG THE WAY
The journey has had its fights — regulatory clashes, advertising wars, staff walkouts, and political pressure. Each storm forced Next Media to get stronger, invest in better infrastructure, and defend editorial independence.
18 YEARS LATER
Today, Next Media operates from the state-of-the-art Next Media Park in Kampala. It employs hundreds of Ugandans and reaches millions daily across TV, radio, and online.
From covering elections and COVID-19, to broadcasting the Uganda Premier League and launching music careers, Next Media has become part of Uganda’s daily life.
Media experts say its biggest impact is cultural: it made news faster, made presenters younger, and proved that Ugandan content can compete globally.
As Next Media marks 18 years, the story is no longer about survival. It’s about what comes next.
For a generation raised on NBS TV, Next Radio, and Sanyuka TV, Next Media isn’t just a company. It’s the news, the music, and the mirror of modern Uganda.
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