Broadcast in Africa
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 346 on 7 August 2020
Annual DISCOP event reworks itself - The business of buying and selling African TV and streaming content goes virtual
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 345 on 24 July 2020
African broadcasters increasing online presence – Covid-19 accelerates the process
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 344 on 10 July 2020
Delivering learning with broadcast and online together – An African opportunity as school lockdowns lengthen
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue 343 on 3 July 2020
African broadcasting will never be quite the same again – focusing on how to regenerate and revive it
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 342 18 June 2020
Ethiopia’s liberalized broadcast market under pressure – audiences increase with Covid-19 but advertising down and there will be more casualties
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 341 3 June 2020
Blessed Ilukor Idornigie, CEO, iBAKA TV on the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown, its expansion plans and moving its platform to AWS
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 340 20 May 2020
Meet The Adebanjos talking to Netflix about a new season, signed licensing deal on platform – Andrew Osayemi, MTA Productions on how to get the best from VoD deals
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 339 6 May 2020
A24 Media launches Yebo VoD service focused on history, biography and African discovery – mobile deals in the offing
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 338 23 April 2020
African broadcasting in a time of Covid-19 – Reports from the front line in Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 337 8 April 2020
Vodacom Play signs up MGM and will roll-out in Lesotho, Tanzania, DRC and Mozambique ‘within weeks’
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 336 25 March 2020
Covid-19: What will happen to African broadcast and film when Governments hit the pause button on the economy – An opening snapshot of likely trends
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 335 12 March 2020
African Animation Network will be taking talent and ideas to Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2020
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 334 27 February 2020
Niche VoD provider Kwa Films promotes the hidden film gems of the Indian Ocean and gives them a longer life
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 333 13 February 2020
Cello is looking to sell 100,000 solar powered televisions a year into Africa and sees huge long-term potential
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 332 30 January 2020
Thema’s ROK Studios is producing 300 films and 20 TV series a year and has plans to produce outside Nigeria
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 331 15 January 2020
Micromedia Group’s Shileola Ibironke pitches her next two TV series and opens a new cinema in Lagos
Seasons Greetings from Balancing Act: That was the year that was – 2019 in review
Seasons Greetings from Balancing Act: That was the year that was – 2019 in review
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 329 5 December 2019
BBC’s World Service wants to increase its Africa audiences with six new laguages and increasing emphasis on TV and digital
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 328 22 November 2019
Exclusive interview: Angola’s Isabel dos Santos on Zap going international and investing in local content
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 327 6 November 2019
DISCOP 2019 focuses on Free-To-Air broadcasters because they are still the ones delivering mass audiences despite the Pay TV and VoD hype, says Patrick Zuchowicki
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 326 24 October 2019
Newly spun-off MultiChoice backs new, original productions for its Showmax VoD platform in South Africa and Nigeria…Kenya to follow
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 325 10 October 2019
SES and AEB launch new satellite platform in Ethiopia with 33 channels, 12 of which are in HD – looking for hybrid business models
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 324 – 25 September 2019
Crisis at Namibia’s public broadcaster spreads as it turns off two other private TV channels on its digital broadcasting platform as a desperate negotiating ploy
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 323 – 11 September 2019
Kenya: Tifa Research pitches passive research as the next stage of understanding audience behavior – panel members no longer self-report or recall
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 322 – 30 August 2019
Zambia’s public DTT signal distributor in trouble – market seems too small to make the Government’s loan payments
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 321 – 14 August 2019
Online platform Avails Africa wants to lower programme rights costs by online transactions and shared licensing costs
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 320 – 30 July 2019
Excaf wants to complete DTT process in Senegal by the end of 2019 and starts DTT transition in Gambia for 2020 finish date – CEO Sidy Diagne on the lessons learned
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 319 – 18 July 2019
New report shows that digital migration and online have disrupted the Kenyan media landscape – find out the winners and losers
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 318 – 3 July 2019
Tanzanian Parliament passes a law that will compel international film-makers to have their raw footage vetted by Government…Say what?
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 317 – 18 June 2019
African public broadcasters facing a financial crunch – different circumstances and common threads but a worrying trend
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 316 – 5 June 2019
Surviving and winning as a production company in a small market – Botswana’s Mohau Mannathoko, Industry Media on the impact of DTT channels and Government tenders
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 315 – 23 May 2019
The long and winding road to the DTT switchover in Africa – A tale of two neighbours, Benin and Nigeria, with very different outcomes
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 314 – 7 May 2019
AfricaXP goes all out to beat the market’s pay TV blues by developing its own free-to-air satellite TV platform, Premium.free
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 313 – 24 April 2019
Ugandan broadcast regulator says it will enforce 70% local content quota by May 2019
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 312 – 9 April 2019
Understanding the impact of social media and online media consumption – new report sheds new light on how traditional broadcast models are being challenged
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 311 – 26 March 2019
KNET’s Richard Hlomador on completing the DTT transition in Ghana and his wider ambitions to roll-out DTT and OTT platforms elsewhere in Africa
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 310 – 14 March 2019
South Africa’s Makhulu Media shoots pioneering VR film to get health clinic workers and young people wanting an HIV test to “step into each other’s shoes”
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 309 – 28 February 2019
New study focuses on how to reach youth through media in Sub-Saharan Africa – what share of the youth market have you got?
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 308 – 15 February 2019
Kenya: #MsPresident Reality TV series gets down to the final 40 – Preparing for a woman President by 2022? 2027?
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 307 – 31 January 2019
Ethiopia - EBS seizes the number one audience position over October-December 2018 according to new research data
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 306 – 18 January 2019
Private competition gathers pace in Cote d’Ivoire with the forthcoming launch of a national Islamic TV station
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 305 – 4 January 2019
Ethiopia’s Kana TV deepens its commitment to local content as media reform increases competition
Seasons Greetings from Balancing Act
Seasons Greetings from Balancing Act
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 303 – 14 December 2018
Ghana: Health channel launches for the middle aged and the old against a backdrop of difficulties in local TV sector
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 302 – 30 November 2018
Azuri Technologies offers solar powered satellite TVs to rural householders - 60 TV and 20 radio channels from Star Times and Zuku
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 301 – 15 November 2018
83 million African households to have access to Digital Terrestrial Television by the end of 2020, but will they actually be consuming it?
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 300 – 2 November 2018
DISCOP Johannesburg 2018: Potential for growth despite strong prevailing headwinds in the broadcast sector
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 299 – 19 October 2018
Multichoice’s Talent Factory Academy opens in Lagos, Lusaka and Nairobi and aims to take 60 chosen film-makers “to the next level”
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 298 – 5 October 2018
Viusasa wants to give Kenyan producers better distribution and is looking for local content
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 297 – 21 September 2018
Ghana – GIBA says StarTimes to get DTT contract, Government denies it but situation as clear as mud
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 296 – 7 September 2018
New sports channel C2TVSPORT launches, promising to help the financial development of sport in DRC
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 295 – 24 August 2018
Cote d’Ivoire’s public broadcaster RTI - Meeting Africa’s digital challenge:” 86% of our content is viewed on a mobile phone”
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 294 – 9 August 2018
The End of Africa’s Mr President TV – Several steps forward and two steps back for the liberalization of the airwaves
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 293 – 27 July 2018
Gambia gets two new TV broadcasters - QTV and Paradise TV with its newly liberalized airwaves and more on the way
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 292 –13 July 2018
Nigeria’s news satire show The Other News hits audiences of 2 million and brings in new types of viewers for Channels TV
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 291 – 29 June 2018
Angola: TV Zimbo’s Serge Kalu on taking on the state-owned TPA – “We pride ourselves on showing more.”
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 290 – 15 June 2018
Pan African TV Channel VoxAfrica has a big hit with The VoiceAfrique and will launch a live streaming channel
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 289 – 1 June 2018
African Pay TV looks set to take a hit from VoD platforms, pressure on DSTV in South Africa from Netflix
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 288 – 18 May 2018
The Digital Revolution: Africa’s Broadcasters need to focus on how to reach their missing audiences
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 287 – 3 May 2018
Gondwana City producer Catherine Guérin talks about comedy feature Welcome to Gondwana, the film’s streaming release and why they’ve given up on mobile
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 286 – 20 April 2018
Innovative new Cameroonian channel CMR7 wants to be a “citizens’ channel” that reaches beyond the elite and focuses on what’s happening in the country
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 285 – 6 April 2018
Mediaworks’ entertainment channel Yanga! takes aim at the African diaspora in the UK
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 284 – 23 March 2018
New International African Francophone Gospel channel to launch shortly
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 283 – 9 March 2018
Cote d’Ivoire: Minister says it will be ready for digital transition well before its June 2020 deadline and liberalization leads to more channels
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 282 - 23 February 2018
Kwese TV takes control of iflix and will use it to drive its mobile roll-outs
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 281 9 February 2018
Mali: TNTSAT Africa gets authorization from media regulator Haut Autorite de Communication to start digital transition
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 280 26 January 2018
Skyrink Studios wants to become South Africa’s first independent black-owned Film and TV studio facilities in Johannesburg
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 279 12 January 2018
Providing African content for in-flight entertainment – John Parr, Global Eagle on what content works and why it does
Broadcast Seasons Greetings
Seasons Greetings from Balancing Act
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 277 1 December 2017
See Feem’s Enyi Omeruah co-produces new Nollywood comedy and wants to create a fund for a five-film slate
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 276 16 November 2017
African broadcast innovation using apps and social media to engage audiences and monetize online activity
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 275 2 November 2017
DISCOP 2017: Economic pressures are forcing changes on African broadcasters
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 274 20 October 2017
The African broadcaster is dead, long live the African broadcaster – changing to meet the mobile and digital futures
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 273 6 October 2017
Trace TV launches Content Distribution division to promote its Afro-Urban programmes in Africa and elsewhere – Acquiring from external producers
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 272 21 September 2017
Globecast South Africa has created its own VoD platform – Clients use it to create new content business models
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 271 8 September 2017
Francophone Africa still looks to RFI and France 24 remain reference channels, according to Africascope 2016/2017 survey
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 270 – 24 August 2017
New data shows which African countries’ Internet speeds are likely to sustain streaming video services
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 269 – 11 August 2017
Public Vine’s cloud-based software gives creators and broadcasters their own platform to promote their content
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 268 – 28 July 2017
Ghana’s Crystal TV wants to develop a Pan-African, satellite Pay TV platform driven by local premium content
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 267 – 14 July 2017
Senegal: Excaf Telecom’s roll-out of digital coverage and decoders gathers pace across the country
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 266 – 30th June 2017
Ghana’s Multi TV builds a 3 million household market share with its “shrink to grow” channels strategy
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 265 – 15th June 2017
Launch of 1st major international VoD service in Francophone Africa - Canal+ and Orange launch IROKO service in Cameroon and elsewhere
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 264 – 1st June 2017
The Slow But Steady Rise of new African Cinemas – Congo-Brazzaville cinema MTN Movies House triples attendance every 3 month
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 263 – 18th May 2017
Nollywood: Filmhouse follows up biggest grossing film ever with The Wedding Party: Part 2 – Destination Dubai, also five other new films
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 262 – 5th May 2017
Axed MTN VoD supplier Discover Digital launches own independent service in South Africa and seeks other partners across Africa
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 261 – 21st April 2017
Togo’s Yobo Studios pioneers short-format series content for broadcast and online
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 260 – 7 April 2017
Uganda’s Kin Kariisa:” I don’t think 28 channels will survive. People are putting in money without getting a return”.
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 259 – 24 March 2017
Africa Zapping – A pin-sharp Francophone news round-up format crying out for an English-language version
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 258 – 10 March 2017
Kenya: Docubox finds funding in innovative ways for documentaries with character-driven storytelling
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 257 – 24 February 2017
DTT opens up new opportunities for broadcasters in Rwanda: Flash TV’s CEO Louis B. Kimanzi in interview
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 256 – 10 February 2017
Rwanda’s Tele10 remodels its VoD platform as a “white label” for mobile operators with local content
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 255 – 25 January 2017
Azuri Technologies offers solar 24 inch TV to Kenyan rural households and sees “real opportunities” in the other 12 countries it operates in
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 254 - 12 January 2017
Satellite TV winning increasing market share in Ghana and looks set to do the same in Nigeria
Seasons Greetings from Balancing Act - Issue no. 253
Seasons Greetings from Balancing Act - Issue no. 253
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 252 - 2 December 2016
M-KOPA sells 30,000 solar TVs in Kenya and looks to add Internet access – expanding to Uganda and Tanzania
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 251 18 November 2016
The Nigerian who sells Nollywood content to francophone Africa, turns You Tube views into hundreds of thousands of dollars monthly
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 250 4 November 2016
South African start-up uses innovative approach with bitcoin and blockchain to catch the pirates online
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 249 20 October 2016
Mahindra Comviva aggressively pursuing a digital content strategy in Africa with TV content producers, broadcast channels and mobile operators
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 248 7 October 2016
New York’s Power Women Production sells African of the Diaspora to Cameroon’s Canal 2, looking for other African partners
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 247 23 September 2016
African advertising spend set to grow but broadcast will need to fight hard to retain its share
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 246 9 September 2016
African talk show The Scoop hits 100 shows but despite good audiences, still needs a sponsor
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 245 26 August 2016
AREWA24 targets Northern Nigeria’s 80 million consumers with original, local programming – planning private equity raise
Broadcast, Film Convergence in Africa - Issue no 244 11 August 2016
Francophone Africa will be getting Fibre-To-The-Home Roll-outs – Large Bollore initiative sees light of day
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 243 28 July 2016
Turner looks to increase local content for Africa and enlarge engagement rolling out its digital strategy
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa – Issue no. 242 15 July 2016
Digital Lab Africa aims to breed new African TV content designed to work in a digital world.
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa – Issue no. 241 30 June 2016
StarTimes innovated further for the African audiovisual market: devices, co-productions and studio
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa – Issue no. 240 17 June 2016
Discop Africa / Abidjan 2016 wrap up - interview with the organizer
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa – Issue no. 239 2 June 2016
New research shows serious African media deficit exists – the land beyond broadcast and other media
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 238 20 May 2016
Africa’s TV and film piracy – Is there a way to bring some of Africa’s pirates in from the cold? (Discop Abidjan)
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 237 May 6 2016
Nigeria’s New Wave broadcasters set a challenge for traditional free-to-air broadcasters
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 236 22 April 2016
Twentieth Century Fox Signs Theatrical Distribution Deal with FilmOne for West Africa
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 235 8 April 2016
BBC Worldwide’s investment in South African production company Rapid Blue – “A focus of theirs is to do more local productions in Africa driven by Africans.”
Broadcast, Film and Convergence Issue No. 234 25 March 2016
Econet’s soon-to-be Pay TV arm buys Free-To-Air English Premier League rights
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 233 11 March 2016
DTT in Cameroon: CRTV takes the opportunity to reinvent itself with 5 new digital channels
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 232 26 February 2016
African broadcast TV news going online and multi-platform – One broadcasters’ story points the way to the future
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 231 11 February 2016
‘They Will Have To Kill Us First’ Malian Music Documentary Is Headed To U.S. Theaters
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 231 11 February 2016
Ethiopia: Moby Group launches free-to-air satellite station Kana TV in JV with local partners
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 230 28 January 2016
Nigeria: New premium business TV Show On The Money launches on Key TV networks
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 229 15 January 2016
Africa - VoD: 4G -LTE has been launched in 24 countries! And Netflix takes the continent by storm
Issue no. 228 - 17 December 2015
Broadcast Christmas Message No 2028
Broadcast Issue no. 227 - 4 December 2015
Nigeria: DTT Process snarled up in legal battle over number of signal carriers
Broadcast Issue no 226 - 20 November 2015
Tele 10 launches its Watch Africa service in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda with NTT-Docomo’s Net M
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 225 - 6 November 2015
DISCOP hosts 2,200 registered attendees at its 2015 edition with major announcements – Round-up of news
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 224 - 22 October 2015
TV channels strategies in Africa : TV5Monde lays out its stall
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue 223 9 October 2015
Hong Kong’s PCCW makes its first content play in Africa – ONTAPtv.com enters the South African market
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 222 - 25 September 2015
Trace unveils ambitious and innovative plans for 2015/2016
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 221 11 September 2015
South Africa’s DTT Transition finally begins to gather some speed – 85% DTT coverage planned, balance by satellite
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 219 - 13 August 2015
Stories from the Continent: Triggerfish launches Story Lab, an animation competition with US$3.5 million of investment over 3 years
Broadcast, Film, Convergence in Africa – Issue no. 218 30 July 2015
Ghana: K-Net plans to roll-out DTT infrastructure in 12 months, Government sued by StarTimes for breach of contract
Broadcast, Film, Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 217 17 July 2015
DStv channel links up with Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) to run a documentary new programme and focus – creating event based content
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 216 - 2 July 2015
Global OTT players offer African content producers new distribution opportunities in Europe and the USA
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 206 - 19 June 2015
DTT in Africa and meeting the ITU deadline: have governments kept their promises?
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 205 - 5 June 2015
DISCOP in Abidjan – A successful francophone TV market looks set to take off
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 204 - 22 May 2015
Inaugural MAAMAs: Reporting on Disasters, Crises and Political Conflict in Africa
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 203 - 7 May 2015
Highest demand ever for satellite broadcast services in Africa, says Eutelsat’s Christoph Limmer
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 202 - 24 April 2015
Kid’s learning platform Hopster targets larger African markets in its global launch
Issue no 201 - 10 April 2015
Mali stands at the threshold of a new more competitive broadcasting sector – Survey results show new competition fault lines
Issue no. 200 27 March 2015
Abidjan to become Francophone TV production Hot Spot as market opens up – BeBlack TV wants to raise profile of African artists
Issue no. 199 12 March 2015
Vice’s African News Coverage offers different ways of explaining things and reaches the digital-savvy younger audience
Issue no 198 - 27 February 2015
Africable announces first hybrid DTT-DTH platform in West Africa
Broadcast Issue no 197 - 12 February 2015
Marie Lora-Mungai and Tendeka Matutu merge their companies to create "Go-To company for African content"
Broadcast Issue 196 - 29 January 2015
AfricaXP partners with Moben International to provide free TV channels through Wi-Fi hot-spots in buildings and taxis
Broadcast Issue 195 - 16 january 2015
Taking control of your TV through a box – African contenders make a play for opening up your TV
Issue no. 194 - Season’s Greetings from Balancing Act’s News Update
Season’s Greetings from Balancing Act’s News Update
Issue no 193 - 5 December 2014
Trace Group will run largest global music talent contest in Africa in partnership with Airtel – Target? Two million entrants
Issue no 192 - 20 November 2014
Startimes ups its game in Africa and pitches a more ambitious vision as the key pay TV challenger while Wananchi keeps its powder dry
Issue no 191 - 7 November 2014
DISCOP Africa, wrap up of the Continent's Largest International TV Content Market
Issue no 190 - 23 October 2014
The future of the TV landscape in Africa
Issue No 189 10 October 2014
A Freeze Frame of African Audiences’ Changing Media Behaviour – the users and what they are doing
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 188 25 September 2014
Africa’s first sports TV radio station stamps its mark on the Nigeria market and looks at going online
Newsletter Broadcast in Africa - Issue no 187 - 12 September 2014
South Africa: TMG launches VIDI VoD service, looking for extra quality AV content
Issue no. 186 - 29 August 2014
SES to Deliver DTH Broadcast Services Across French Speaking Countries in West Africa - TNTSat Africa
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 185 14 August 2014
US and Nigerian-backed Aflix VoD service launches with major international content at an affordable price
Issue no. 184 - 31 July 2014
SES launches new digital TV platform for West Africa – Will offer local control and buying space by channel
Issue no. 183 17 July 2014
With 1.3 M. subs. in Africa, Canal+ makes a major push and launches new African channel 'A+'
Issue no. 182 - 3 July 2014
Delivering smart TV solutions on the African continent: Call for partners
Issue no. 181 20 June 2014
Digital Content in Africa: MTN Play Côte d’Ivoire is looking for digital content that will play well on mobile phones
Issue no. 180 5 June 2014
The African marketplace is now worth half a billion US Dollars in annual TV content wholesale sales – double the figure from 2010.
Issue no. 179 15 May 2014
African TV channels: tips for innovative sports TV programmes
Issue no. 178 1st May 2014
Lack of African audience research is holding back TV market
Issue no. 177 - 17 April 2014
Africa: Massive opportunities in the Sports TV sector
Issue no. 176 - 3 April 2014
AfricaXP seeks to create a game changing B2B business model for content trading using cloud delivery
Issue no. 175 13 March 2014
Kenya’s Buni TV launches its Buni+ pay for premium subscription service (VoD)
Issue no. 174 - 27 February 2014
Global Swedish broadcast group MTG looking to expand to more countries in Africa
Issue no. 173 - 13 February 2014
Uganda on the brink of national DTT roll-out after Greater Kampala transmission completed – Funding issues hover
Issue no 172 30 January 2014
2014 Predictions for the African audio-visual and broadcast sectors
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 171 13 January 2014
Viewsat sees a doubling of satellite TV channels in Africa in 2014 with new start-ups and more entertainment channels
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 169 5 December 2013
AzamTV sets out to become another pan-continental pay TV challenger starting its home market, Tanzania
Issue no. 168 22 November 2013
AfricaCast 2013: The truth that dare not speak its name – Africa’s telco operators may not be ready to launch VoD services
Issue no. 167 7 November 2013
The rise of VoD platforms in Africa – rumours abound of major announcements
Issue no. 166 24 October 2013
Thema starts selling an OTT box to deliver Le Bouquet Africain almost anywhere in European Union
Issue no. 165 10 October 2013
Balancing Act launches a new web TV channel – SmartMonkeyTV .com– out to capture the energy at the crossroads between culture and technology
Issue no 164 27th September 2013
Addressing the training issue for the digital transition in Africa – getting down to the nuts and bolts of what it means for broadcasters
Issue no 163 - 12 September 2013
East Africa: Wananchi to raise up to US$100 million for TV expansion
Issue no. 162 30 August 2013
South African Government announces that it will tackle the monopoly on sports rights – Policy due by March 2014
Issue 161 3 August 2013
Africa’s Youth Boom in Internet Access is driving YouTube use across the continent
Issue no. 160 - 19 July 2013
You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone: Africa needs to do more to preserve its audio-visual heritage
Issue no. 159 4 July 2013
DTT: The Dark cloud hanging over the African TV market
Broadcast Issue no. 158 - 20 June 2013
NollywoodWeek Paris: Nigerian film-makers look to a new opportunity for expansion with francophone audiences of 300 m
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 157 - 30th May 2013
East Africa: Broadcasters prepare to capitalise on the opportunities from the digital transition
Broadcast Issue no 156 - 17th May 2013
Stronger regulation should be the lever to eliminate those TV channels that do not meet high standards from the race, says OIF’s Tidiane Dioh
Issue no 155 Telecoms, Internet and Broadcast in Africa - 2 May 2013
New trends in the African broadcast TV market: A view from Satellite content deliverer SatLink targets broadcasters in Africa with Over-The-Top services and Turnkey Solutions
Issue no. 154 19 April 2013
Gary Rathbone announces new TV sports programmes aimed at African FTA broadcasters
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 153 4 April 2013
China raises the media flag in Africa with investment in both technology and content with mixed motives
Issue no. 152 21 march 2013
FESPACO: AfricaFilms.tv signs 12 contracts and announces YouTube partnership
Issue no 151 7 March 2013
Digital TV deployment with full geographic coverage across Africa will require satellite contribution - Eutelsat a key contributor
Issue No. 150 20 February 2013
VoD provides a major distribution opportunity for African producers, TV channels and investors...now'
Issue no 149 7 February 2013
Afrik.tv video news agency grows with new clients and a stock of news from all over the African continent
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 148 24 January 2013
Zuku TV’s original content strategy starts to pay off with a deal on the Tales from the Bush Larder series with Fox International
Issue no. 147 10 January 2013
Amos-Spacecom look set to become the challenger in the African satellite broadcast market
Issue no 146 19 December 2012
Seasons Greetings to our Readers, Clients and Advertisers
Issue no 144 6 December 2012
African broadcasters : Rapid Blue can help you fund better productions
Issue no. 143 22 November 2012
Pace of VOD launches gathers speed in the wake of iROKO – Wabona.com launches in South Africa
Issue no. 142 8 November 2012
DISCOP Africa 2012 round-up: African content busy being born in hybrid forms
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no 141 25 October 2012
Discop: Africa’s largest video news agency AFP now has the capability to offer SMS news services to the continent’s broadcasters and telcos
Issue no. 140 11 October 2012
Thema TV launches a new TV channel from Nigeria: 'Nollywood TV' for French-speaking territories
Issue no 139 27 September 2012
Filme aus Afrika: FilmInitiativ's initiative to increase the distribution of African audio-visual productions
Issue no. 138 12th September 2012
Nigeria: Iman Entertainment launches the country’s first proper national distribution system for film and music CDs
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 137 29 August 2012
FrontlineSMS bring a free, innovative solution to African broadcasters
Issue no 136 16 August 2012
NHU Africa’s Christopher Mason on growing the wildlife and natural history programme genre
Issue no 135; 31 July 2012
BFMA Wrap up (2/2): challenges and opportunities in the African audiovisual content and broadcast markets
Issue no 134 19 July 2012
BFMA Wrap up: a much larger role for African producers and broadcasters in the future
Issue no. 133 4th July 2012
Eutelsat lines to provide the elusive holy grail of African Pay TV growth, Triple Play with its IP Easy product
Issue no. 132 21 June 2012
Orange’s music streaming service Deezer enters Africa’s burgeoning music platform market – TV programmes to follow?
Issue no 131 7 June 2012
South Africa’s MeTVAfrica.com VOD service targets a pan-continental audience with anything but Nollywood
Issue no. 130 23 May 2012
Broadcast, Film and Music Africa: Stronger partnerships needed between broadcasters and telcos to stay competitive
Issue no. 129 10 May 2012
Buni TV: a new VoD platform for African independent producers
Issue no. 128 26 April 2012
One of South Africa's top three production houses opens office in Los Angeles
Issue no 127 12 April 2012
Nollywood film producers caught in a squeeze – FVPMAN points the blame at Africa Magic
Issue no. 126 29 March 2012
African Football Factory seeks to open up the broadcast sports space beyond the boundaries of the big players
Issue no. 125 15 March 2012
Getting African films seen by school-children - Africa in Motion on a Scottish Tour
Issue no. 124 1 March 2012
Cote Ouest brings Brazilian magic football to Africa – Brasileirao and Paulista available with magazine packages in English and French
Issue No. 123 16 February 2012
It’s a monster….Africa’s broadcasting growth tracked in a new 500+ page report released this week
Issue no. 122 - 2 February 2012
Africa starts crowdsourcing finance for films – maybe local TV programmes should follow
Issue no 121 - 20 January 2012
Broadcast audiences – Africa’s blissful ignorance holds back industry development in most of the continent
Christmas Issue - 3 January 2012
Seasons Greetings from Balancing Act's Broadcast, Film and Convergence
Christmas Issue - 3 January 2012
Order a Report and Contact Us
Issue No. 120 5 January 2012
Open or closed broadcasting markets: will all of Africa step up to the plate in 2012?
Issue no. 119 8 December 2011
Trace Africa will raise the profile of African music and company set to launch local FM radio stations soon
Issue No. 118 24 November 2011
A new hybrid digital TV model in East Africa – Burundi’s Tele10 looks to roll-out in Kenya and Uganda with IPTV and VoD
Issue no. 117 - 8 November 2011
Diasporas represent big opportunity for African TV broadcasters and film-makers
Issue no. 116 - 27 October 2011
Live streaming opens up new avenues for African broadcasters as the Internet access landscape improves
Issue no. 115 - 13 October 2011
African release of Viva Riva! May be the first sign that African film is in reset mode for a more commercial future
Issue no. 114; 29 September 2011
Arab Spring prompts a new wave of Free-To-Air licence liberalisation in North Africa but still a hard core of “hold-outs” in Sub-Saharan Africa
Issue no. 113; 15 September 2011
Comedy special: Programme makers in search of Africa’s funny bone
Issue No 112, 31 August 2011
Iroko Partners finds a You Tube business model selling Nollywood and is set to move into music video sales
Issue no. 111; 16 August 2011
Sweden’s Pay TV operator NGB pulls out of Africa for other markets, selling companies in Kenya and Uganda
Issue no. 110 4 August 2011
China’s Star Times wins UEFA 2012-2015 free-to-air media rights for sub-Saharan Africa
Issue no. 109 21 July 2011
Three year old TV content market DISCOP back in Nairobi in September plus African Sports Rights Market
Issue no. 108 - 7 July 2011
Africa’s bumpy road to the digital transition in broadcasting – issues that have to be faced
Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no 107 23 June 2011
Broadcast and Film Africa Conference will look at how to build “a world class electronic media industry in Africa’
Issue no 106 9 June 2011
Satellite companies pitch DTH as a solution to meeting the digital broadcast transition deadline
Issue no. 105, 26 May 2011
New TV formats for Africa looking for sponsors
Issue no. 104, 12 May 2011
General Satellite Corporation ready to put money on table for DTH TV in Africa...right time, right place
Issue no 103 - 28th April 2011
Ghana’s Adam’s Apples launches an innovative ten-part film series that will be distributed to cinemas with a special anti-piracy lock
Issue no 102, 14th April 2011
AfricanFilms.tv launches in June 2011 with 500 VoD titles on non-exclusive basis
Issue no 101 31st March 2011
Delivering African TV content in a multi-platform world – the choices broadcasters face
Issue no 100 - 15th March 2011
Gabonese Free-To-Air and Pay TV operator using DTT wants to expand across Africa, searching partners
Issue no 99 - 2nd March 2011
Nollywood’s The Mirror Boy gets a West End Premiere in UK and looks set to get theatrical release in Q2, 2011
Issue no 98 - 17 February 2011
Discop Africa: Seen and heard in Accra – Things coming up from below the radar
Issue No 97 3 February 2011
The challenges for Africa’s film industry – getting financially sustainable as all about changes
Issue No 96 20 January 2011
There is life after football – CAfrica rolls out the NBA across the continent
Issue no 95 7 January 2011
Uganda: Jacaranda Digital Broadcasting will invest US$2.5 million in digital transmission network; phase one goes live in February 2011
Issue no 94 7 December 2010
TV5 Monde Afrique to set up a second satellite signal and terrestrial signals in Togo and Ghana for 2011
Issue Number 93, 23 Nov. 2010.
Thema’s Bouquet Africain will hit 100,000 subscribers by year end
Issue Number 92, 9 Nov. 2010
New reports highlight broadcast and ad revenue revolution in Africa
Issue Number 91 - 26 Oct 2010
Nigeria’s Cinemart sets out to conquer the continent with a new business model for cinemas
Issue 90, 12th. Oct 2010.
Kenya's political satire show XYZ gets funding in the bag for two more seasons
89 - 30 September 2010
Long-awaited Free2View to launch over West Africa in “next few weeks” and on IS17 in February 2011
88 - 16 September 2010
With the digital transition coming, Africa needs a manifesto for change in its public broadcasting
87- 2 September 2010
Ultima Studios fire underlines need for back-up plan but do African producers save copies of their work?
Issue 86, 18 August 2010
African rights holders and broadcasters set to launch Africa Rights Watch to combat piracy by broadcasters themselves
85 - 4th Aug 2010.
The art of being different: Africa’s broadcasters seek to differentiate themselves in crowded markets
84 - 20 July 2010
Over half of African countries are likely to fail to meet the 2015 deadline for the transition to digital broadcasting
Issue no 83 7 July 2010
Zambia’s Breeze 89.3FM becomes a key regional player, mixing vernacular and English
Issue no 82 23 June 2010
2nd African Broadcast and Film Conference will look at new challengers in the market and how Africa can generate its own local content
Issue no 81 10 June 2010
The Long Road to the World Cup: South Africa finally takes centre stage in the media spotlight
Issue no 80 27 May 2010
Sweden’s NGB takes the DTT route into both FTA and Pay TV content
Issue no 79 14 May 2010
Radio and TV stations using SMS messaging to raise money and generate interactivity
Issue no 78 23 April 2010
My TV looks set to provide a regional challenge in the African Pay TV market
Issue no 77 09 April 2010
IDmage offers African film-makers distribution via VOD and pre-paid mobile cinemas
Issue no 76 26 March 2010
With the opening of three new production studios, will Nigeria generate a production ecology with real pulling power?
Issue no 75 12 March 2010
Kenya: New survey results show Citizen challenging KBC’s dominant position in rural areas
Issue no 74 25 February 2010
Nigeria: Galaxy’s veteran broadcaster Steve Ojo to launch national Free-To-Air channel with China’s Star TV
Issue no 73 11 February 2010
Producing global TV formats in Nigeria and South Africa – working to a different business model
Issue no 72 28 January 2010
Kenya: Internet is creeping up on television for key 18-24 demographic, says new national survey
Issue no 71 14 January 2010
The Africa Cup of Nations – Biennial rights farce plays 27th time as LC2-AFNEX practices daylight robbery
Issue no 70 7th January 2010
ZEM: Canal Overseas Africa co-produces new series made in Togo
Issue no 69 10th December 2009
Kenya’s Habari TV to offer streamed online news from TV stations across Africa
Issue no 68 26 November 2009
Uganda runs DTT pilot and plans to go digital by 2012 but private sector argues for separate signal carrier
Issue no 67 12th November 2009
Ochre’s niche channel Saffron TV targets South Africa’s Indian community
Issue no 66 28th October 2009
Kenya’s Freeview looks for a new business model in the digital future
Issue no 65 14th October 2009
Thema launches VOD service for the African diaspora in France
Issue no 64 30th September 2009
Tinga, Tinga: Africa’s first major animation series production set for release in 2010
Issue no 63 16th September 2009
Internet takes centre stage for African broadcasters : News channels, feeds, distribution and downloads
Issue no 62 2 September 2009
Kenya’s Media Nation Group tackles changing landscape with a multi-platform strategy
Issue no 61 19 August 2009
Surviving in a small market: Gambia’s Unique FM innovates by offering reality radio
Issue no 60 5 August 2009
Kenya’s Kiss FM goes into TV with new Kiss TV channel
Issue no 59 24 July 2009
Setanta Africa pioneers Free To Air sports television
Issue no 59 24 July 2009
Sports TV Uganda seizes a significant chunk of audience thirsty for sports coverage
Issue no 58 10 July 2009
Mozambique: Private TV stations battle it out with state-run TVM
Issue no 57 26 June 2009
Cinetoile promotes African cinema to create new audiences and business models
Issue no 56 12 June 2009
Uganda - Tough fight amongst top three broadcasters but digitalisation just over the horizon
Issue no 55 29 May 2009
Senegal : Newly liberalised private TV and radio channels winning hands-down in the battle for audiences
Issue no 54 15 May 2009
Fight the power : African Pay-TV channels come together to bid for Premier League rights
Issue no 53 30 April 2009
Africa comes to France - New TV bouquets targeted at diaspora
Issue no 52 16 April 2009
M-Net amasses library of 450 plus African films and is launching a VOD streaming service
Issue no 51 2 April 2009
Ghana’s VTT Satellite’s Make Me A Success completes production and looks for broadcast partners
Issue no 50 19 March 2009
African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they scramble for audiences
Issue no 49 5 March 2009
DISCOP: Africa’s first media market attracts over 400 people to Dakar for three day meeting-fest
Issue no 48 19 February 2009
The Africa Channel now reaches 12 million households in USA, UK and Caribbean
Issue no 47 5 February 2009
Death of a dream: Africa’s pay TV challenger GTV runs out of financial road
Issue no 46 22 January 2009
DISCOP launches Africa’s first fully-fledged media market in Dakar in February and will offer second event in Nairobi in September
Issue no 45 8 January 2009
Ethiopia liberalises radio and television may follow, supports thriving local film culture
Issue no 44 11 December 2008
African public broadcasting – Going from nothing to something in a converged world
Issue no 43 27 November 2008
Returned Nigerian Film-maker wants to produce “Oscar-winning industry” through African Roving Film School and own productions
Issue no 42 13 November 2008
Senegal’s Excaf-Télécom and Delta Net TV mount legal competition challenge against Canal Plus
Issue no 41 30 October 2008
75% of radio stations in West African survey produce digitally, says new report
Issue no 40 16 October 2008
Broadcast content distribution goes digital: Welcome to the world of A24 Media and Freedom Fone
Issue no 38 28 September 2008
Wananchi to launch Triple Play in Kenya and Tanzania with US$100 plus investment in HFC networks
Issue no 39 2 October 2008
Conference special – Broadcasters grapple with how to create local content that travels well
Issue no 37 4 September 2008
New broadcast TV companies set to enter Nigeria’s cauldron of competition in Lagos
Issue no 36 21 August 2008
Television liberalisation makes further inroads into francophone Africa
Issue no 35 7 August 2008
Africa’s First Broadcast, Film and Convergence Conference to be sponsored by Al-Jazeera and Wananchi
Issue no 34 24 July 2008
Better security systems and competitive pricing undercut pirate Pay-TV hackers
Issue no 33 10 July 2008
Africa’s broadcasters face ad recession but mobiles may be the silver lining
Issue no 32 26 June 2008
African Pay TV waiting for its pre-pay breakthrough moment
Issue no 31 12 June 2008
As competition for audiences becomes more intense, First African Broadcast, Film and Convergence conference seeks to tackle key issues
Issue no 30 29 May 2008
TV programme rights “lockdown” – lack of competition stifles growth
Issue no 29 15 May 2008
Ghana: Metro TV’s CEO Tallal Fattal on reality show Football Academy and launching new DTT channel
Issue no 28 1 May 2008
Cinema: The rise of video booths shows there is an untapped audience out there at the right price
Issue no 27 18 April 2008
Mauritius – Fierce competition between radio stations but only state television
Issue no 27 18 April 2008
Reader’s response - South Africa: State Gets Behind Local TV and Film Industry with tax incentives package
Issue no 26 4 April 2008
CNBC extends its reach across the continent with terrestrial and non-terrestrial deals
Issue no 25 21 March 2008
Endemol’s Sivan Pillay on local production skills, mobile TV and that Big Brother download controversy in Nigeria
Issue no 25 21 March 2008
Reader’s response:
Issue no 24 7 March 2008
Rapid increase in the number of radio and TV channels in Africa, says new report
Issue no 23 22 February 2008
Botswana to up TV and radio coverage to 97+% of population, Namibia may follow
Issue no 22 8 February 2008
Multichoice Africa’s CEO Eben Greyling looks to 20-30% growth over “the next couple of years”
Issue no 21 25 January 2008
Mobile TV goes off in search of audiences as roll-outs increase across the continent
Issue no 20 11 January 2008
Africa’s “nanny-state” seeks to restrict discussions on radio call-in shows
Issue no 19 14 December 2007
Executive Group International and Storm to start shooting Africa's version of The Apprentice in January
Issue no 18 26 November 2007
Mobile cinema revival reaches the parts where cinemas don’t exist
Issue no 17 12 November 2007
Africa’s digital switchover – nothing much happening except a handful of pioneers
Issue no 16 29 October 2007
MTV Networks Africa launches events to “up the game” of video makers
Issue no 15 15 October 2007
African broadcasting freedom of expression: the strange case of the dog that didn't bark
Issue no 13 happen(17 September 2007
Nollywood the movie – How the money makes it happen
Issue no 12 beginning(3 September 2007
Africa: The race to liberalise broadcast markets is just beginning
Issue no 11 it(20 August 2007
Almost African independents day - It's not what you do but the way that you do it
Issue no 9 25 July 2007
Sofitel Capital puts up US$60m loan for Foisi Broadcasting Network’s free-to-air, ad-financed channel
Issue no 8 11 July 2007
New African-owned UK and US TV channels target diaspora Africans with IP-TV
Issue no 7 27 June 2007
France: First African film entries in mobile film festival
Issue no 6 13 June 2007
African 24 hour TV news channel project to start investor fundraising
Issue no 5 30 May 2007
GTV Scoops Premiership Rights for Sub-Saharan Africa
Issue no 4 16 May 2007
Rwanda Television wants to build up its local content output
Issue no 3 2 May 2007
Liberia: End of civil war has changed media landscape forever
Issue no 2 doldrums (Pilot issue
Digital cinema has the potential to take Africa’s under-invested film exhibitors out of the doldrums
Issue no 1 Time (Demo issue
NTV Uganda Shut Down a Second Time
