MultiChoice Uganda has commissioned The Short and Byg Show, a Kampala-based podcast fronted by media personalities Isaac Katende, known as Kasuku, and Shamim Mayanja, known professionally as Zubeda. The announcement was made on 26 October 2026 at the operator’s Kampala head office, alongside details of a revised four-package DStv offering scheduled to take effect on 5 November.
Katende founded Kasuku Media after leaving Dembe FM, while Mayanja has built her public profile under the name Zubeda. The commission brings an established podcast format into MultiChoice Uganda’s television content pipeline, reflecting an approach that allows broadcasters and pay-TV operators to extend the reach of personalities and formats that already have an audience.
However, the details disclosed so far remain limited. MultiChoice Uganda has indicated that the show will reach television audiences but has not identified the channel or distribution platform, announced a premiere date, confirmed an episode count or disclosed the financial terms of the commission. The programme’s title also varies across local reports, appearing as both The Short and Byg Show and The Short and Big Show. The official title will need to be confirmed before listings and promotional materials are finalised.
The show joins a broader slate of local productions associated with MultiChoice Uganda, including Kampala Crème season four, Musama, Home of Our Stars season four and Tie the Knot. Together, these commissions illustrate the operator’s continued use of locally rooted entertainment to maintain relevance with Ugandan audiences.
The podcast-to-television move is notable because it offers a potentially lower-cost route to local programming than developing a new format from scratch. A podcast with existing hosts and an established audience may give a broadcaster a recognisable starting point, although the commercial value will depend on production costs, audience reach, advertising potential and how successfully the format translates to television.
The timing also places the commission within a wider pay-TV challenge: operators are simplifying package structures while seeking to demonstrate value through locally relevant content. For MultiChoice, regional commissions can help distinguish its offering from international streaming services, while creating opportunities for local talent and production businesses.
For now, the commission signals intent rather than a fully defined programming launch. The channel, release schedule, episode commitment and confirmed title will be important indicators of how MultiChoice plans to distribute the show and whether this approach becomes a repeatable model for adapting digital-first content for television audiences.
