TIPTOPSTARS

Cameroon is so politically uneventful. The country's economy does not usually make headlines either. Meanwhile, human interest stories which attract a considerable amount of attention easily happen without the media covering. Only few of such happenings get captured and                   reported on TV. This makes investing in news television channels quite unprofitable and probably explains why Cameroonian television media executives have hardly put up outfits that cover exclusively news. Lovers of news (Cameroon does not have many) rely mainly on CNN, BCC and EuroNews.

On the other hand, there are more Cameroonians, especially young viewers who rather find infinite pleasure in entertainment content on TV - music, cinema, showbiz talk shows, reality shows and football. This has corresponded with what cable distribution outfits have been serving their customers. Having understood this unquenchable thirst, cable distributors have carefully selected what content they beam into homes - this to the favour of two of the continent's giants, South Africa and Nigeria whose channels have completely won the Cameroonian market.

For example, in Muyuka, a small town situated a few kilometers from Buea, former capital of West Cameroon, entertainment television has had a strong grip on viewers. Homes here enjoy an interestingly wide variety of channels with ''don't - miss'' shows that pin viewers to their TVsets for long hours. When it is not the famous Big Brother on Mnet, it is Desperate Singles on Africa Magic. When it is not Call in or Hit Wave on Channel O, they are watching 30 Rock or Glee on Mnet Series.  Mnet's Comic, Legend of the Seeker and Girls House on Africa Magic are more entertainment slots that hold the attention of viewers. Tinsel on Mnet has also become a strong entertainment factor on TV. It is a popular South African series.

Zapping would also take them across channels such as Africa Magic Plus and Africa Magic Hausa where they ceaselessly savour countless appetizing movies coming from Nollywood and other countries in Africa. ''We aren't bored any more as was the case in the past. We watch movies at our will and are happy all the time,'' remarked a fan of Nigerian films.

On Mnet Series, Mnet Action and ETV, for instance, film lovers get their fair share of entertaining film productions, mostly from South Africa. Many of them reveal they fell in love with South African series following a remarkable success recorded by Rhythm City, Scandal and Backstage, some of the most famous African soap operas ever beamed to Cameroon.

As if that were not enough, cable distributors have drowned consumers in entertaining content coming from abroad via major outfits such as the French music channel TRACE, an the American MBC-Base and E Channel. Here, viewers especially youths are spoiled with spectacular video clips and latest vibes in the world of stars.

Meantime, Muyuka football lovers, most of them young boys get hooked up to channels such Supersports and Info Sports on which they spent hours watching games. Like viewers in other parts of Cameroon and Africa, they have become addicted to European League matches and the famous Champions League which the specialized sports channels give them the privilege to savour. Interesting to know is that the commentary and analysis slots on Supersports for instance have fast become quite entertaining and provide watching pleasure comparable to that derived from movies and music. Animators of such slots who include former players and journalists are enjoyed with the same degree as some of the showbiz stars that emerge on our screens every day.