Smooth IK Teases New Online Show ‘Courtesy Call’ After ZNBC Retirement

Veteran Zambian broadcaster Innocent Kalaluka, popularly known as Smooth IK, appears to be preparing for his next chapter in broadcasting after teasing a new online programme dubbed “Courtesy Call.” Kalaluka, who recently retired from the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) after more than three decades of service, took to social media to hint that he […]

Veteran Zambian broadcaster Innocent Kalaluka, popularly known as Smooth IK, appears to be preparing for his next chapter in broadcasting after teasing a new online programme dubbed “Courtesy Call.”

Kalaluka, who recently retired from the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) after more than three decades of service, took to social media to hint that he could soon be returning to the screen — this time through digital platforms.

“Courtesy Call is coming!” Kalaluka posted, accompanied by telephone and camera emojis.

He added: “Look out… I could just be paying a Courtesy Call on you.”

The veteran broadcaster went on to describe the concept as a short-form conversation programme built around approximately 10 minutes of interaction.

“No long speeches. Just 10 minutes of conversation, insight, a little laughter and perhaps a question or two you didn’t see coming,” he wrote.

Kalaluka indicated that Facebook and YouTube will be the platforms for the new project, suggesting that Courtesy Call will take advantage of the growing appetite for digital interviews and personality-driven online content.

The announcement comes shortly after the end of his long association with ZNBC, where he became one of Zambia’s most recognisable television personalities.
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ZNBC confirmed that Kalaluka officially retired from the corporation effective August 31, 2026, alongside fellow veteran broadcaster Franklin Tembo Jnr. The corporation said the two had each served for more than 30 years and had voluntarily submitted applications for early retirement in 2025.

Before his retirement, Kalaluka had already become synonymous with Smooth Talk, the long-running ZNBC programme that ran for about 24 years and featured musicians, actors, comedians, entrepreneurs, politicians and other prominent personalities. Reports on the programme’s final edition put its run at approximately 1,248 episodes.

His move towards an online show could therefore mark a transition from traditional television to a more direct relationship with audiences on social media and video platforms.

Unlike a conventional television programme, a digital show such as Courtesy Call could potentially allow Kalaluka to interact with guests and audiences without the same broadcasting structure associated with traditional television.

His description of the format also suggests that the programme will be deliberately short and conversational, with the emphasis on interesting exchanges rather than lengthy interviews.

The line about asking “a question or two you didn’t see coming” has also added an element of curiosity around what viewers can expect when Courtesy Call officially launches.

Kalaluka has not yet revealed the programme’s launch date, the first guests or whether the conversations will take place remotely or in person.

For a broadcaster whose career has been built around conversations, however, the idea of making a “courtesy call” appears to be a fitting way of entering a new era.

And judging by his teaser, Smooth IK may not be leaving the screen after all — he could simply be changing where audiences find him.
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