The Spotlight now falls on the SAT-7 PARS studio in Limassol, a lively port city on the south coast of Cyprus.
Producing high-quality content out of a house in Limassol could work for only so long. As the studio’s output increased, so their space needed to expand. Towards the end of 2016 they got just what they needed: a roomy double warehouse with an open studio space.
The surrounding industrial estate may be quiet, but the staff team inside are anything but. Creating and broadcasting three of SAT-7’s most popular live shows is a monumental task, especially when you consider what else goes on in the studio. Preparation work for the live shows – clips, music, editing and so on – is spread throughout the week, along with pre-recording of material for other shows and even delivering Farsi (Persian) language lessons.
On top of all that, an Audience Relations team is busy at work in the building. Taking calls and handling social media interactions, this team makes sure SAT-7 viewers are cared for not only during our live shows but after, too.
“It is so special when children call into the live show because we can see that we are reaching and impacting children in the Middle East,” says producer of SAT-7 PARS live show Golpand (pictured), Petros Mohseni. “It’s so encouraging because we get around 25 calls per live show and around a hundred messages a week from viewers on our social media. We have many children who call to play the games on air, and now they want to ask questions about Jesus and pray.”
Although the team primarily reach Farsi speakers, many of whom live in Iran, the SAT-7 PARS studio cannot be located in Iran because of religious freedom restrictions. Limassol, home to a large percentage of the Iranians who live in Cyprus, provides a perfect and strategic alternative.
PRAY
- Pray for team unity and a real sense of family at the Limassol Studio.
- Ask God to use powerfully the three live shows recorded in the Limassol Studio: Golpand, Signal and Hashtag.
- The SAT-7 PARS team are in need of funds for new equipment and more Iranian production staff members. Pray that God would supply their needs!
- Cyprus has been effectively partitioned since 1974 when Turkey claimed the northern part of the island as their own. Pray for peace between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots as the dispute continues.