Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 331 15 January 2020
Top Story
Micromedia Group’s Shileola Ibironke pitches her next two TV series and opens a new cinema in Lagos
15 January 2020
Establishing yourself in the Nigerian production sector is a tough business and requires a tricky combination of the ability to persuade sponsors to step up to the plate, a feel for what will work locally but sell continentally and access to finance. Russell Southwood talked to Shileola Ibironke, CEO, Micromedia Group about how she made her first two series, her new productions and opening a cinema in Lagos. Unlike a lot of industry executives on the continent, she started out as an economics graduate who then focused on marketing. Although she had a part in a film while a student,…
Broadcast
Africa Magic Launches New Reality Shows For 2020
15 January 2020
Africa Magic has kicked off the New Year with a series of new reality shows. It recently announced that it would be introducing three new TV shows: ‘Dr Laser’, ‘Date…
Broadcast
BBC Focus on Africa to be broadcast on GHOne TV
15 January 2020
Focus on Africa, the BBC’s daily television news programme for Africa will air every weekday evening on GHOne TV. As of January 6, viewers in Ghana can watch the latest…
Broadcast
In brief
15 January 2020
Zap has delayed the price hike for its satellite services to 23 January and fibre services to 1 February, due to a delay in clearance from the Angolan Telecommunications Institute…
Content - Film
I am Africa Short Film Competition - Spotlights Filmmakers in Sub-Saharan Africa
15 January 2020
*LOS ANGELES — YouTube, in partnership with The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) and The Africa Narrative at USC Norman Lear Center, announced the 48 semi-finalists for the I Am…
Content - Film
South Africa: 7th edition of Ugu Film Festival to focus on strides made by female filmmakers
15 January 2020
The Ugu Film Festival, hosted by Sollywood Films in partnership with The National Film and Video Foundation, and Ugu South Coast Tourism, is back with a bigger and better programme…
Content - Film
Kenya: Lesbian-Themed Film 'Rafiki' to Be Screened Across Africa, Except Kenya
15 January 2020
Director Wanuri Kahiu's joyous lesbian romance Rafiki is set to be screen across Africa, except her home country, Kenya where the film was made. The film, which has generated acclaim…
Content - Film
SA documentary on Bell Pottinger propaganda war selected for Sundance Festival
15 January 2020
Director of photography Glauco Bermudez and directors Richard Poplak and Diana Neille filming the Swords of Qādisīyah in the Green Zone, Baghdad. From around 15,000 entries submitted to the Sundance…
Content - Film
10 Nigerian Movies That Redefined Nollywood Last Decade
15 January 2020
The last decade inarguably brought tremendous change to the Nigerian film industry. From the quality of production to the scripting and even acceptance among movie watchers, the movies of the…
Content - Film
Ethiopia: Films breathe optimism into political malaise
15 January 2020
Political films and plays motivate audiences of troubled nation to embrace peace, tolerance and unity A mother of nine was on her deathbed after a careless surgeon who operated on…
Content - Film
End Clap in Côte d’Ivoire for the Global Migration Film Festival
15 January 2020
The curtain came down on IOM’s fourth annual Global Migration Film Festival (GMFF) here on Wednesday 18 December, with Estonian filmmaker Madli Lääne taking home the festival’s top award for…
Content - Television
StarTimes Kenya Adds Two New Documentary Channels
15 January 2020
StarTimes Media in Kenya has added the Smithsonian and Love Nature documentary channels to its offering. Love Nature is a 24-hour wild and marine animals channel that has been made…
Content - Television
All the South African series and movies coming to Netflix
15 January 2020
Netflix has acquired the rights to titles from Indigenous Films, the company told MyBroadband. The streaming service said that classic titles such as Tsotsi, iNumber Number, and The Forgotten Kingdom…
Content - Television
Egypt's Second Netflix Original Is Set to Star Satirical Puppet Abla Fahita
15 January 2020
The popular character will try her hand at a scripted series that chronicles her path to stardom. Netflix's continued effort to commission more originals from the continent has yielded another…
Content - Television
Cairo International Film Festival partners with Viu to fund Egyptian short films
15 January 2020
Offering a total budget of $100,000, at least three Egyptian filmmakers will receive funding to produce or complete their films. OTT platform Viu has partnered with the Cairo International Film…
Distribution
Shesha Fest: African Animation Debuts On Cartoon Network’s!
15 January 2020
Finally, here on your screens, Cartoon Network will unveil the three Cartoon Network Africa shorts produced in Africa as part of their Shesha Fest, an on-air stunt in January 2020…
Distribution
StarTimes picks up FA Cup in sub-Saharan Africa
15 January 2020
StarTimes, the Chinese pay TV broadcaster with a strong presence in Africa, has acquired the rights to the English FA Cup and FA Community Shield in sub-Saharan Africa. Running…
Technology & Convergence
China's StarTimes hands over digital television project to Kenya
15 January 2020
Chinese pay television company StarTimes on Friday handed over a digital television project to Kenyan authorities after successful implementation. The project that was launched in June 2018, and is part…
Regulation & Policy
Nigerian Communications Commission Develops Draft Guidelines For Use Of TV White Spaces In Nigeria
15 January 2020
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has developed draft guidelines for the use of Television White Spaces (TVWS) for rural broadband connectivity in Nigeria. The apex regulatory body in charge of…
Regulation & Policy
Nigerian govt prohibits exclusive sports broadcasting rights
15 January 2020
The Federal Government has prohibited exclusivity rights in broadcasting sporting events in the country. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued…
Regulation & Policy
TV channels to launch their activities on the DTT platform as from February in Ivory Coast
15 January 2020
In Ivory Coast, the television channels selected to broadcast on the digital television platform (DTT) must launch their activities no later than next February. This was announced by Sidi Touré,…
Investment
SVOD subs to increase by six times in Africa
15 January 2020
Revenues from African SVOD services are set to skyrocket over the next five years. According to a new study from Digital TV Research, revenues will reach US$1.06 billion by 2025,…
More
Opportunities
15 January 2020
Call out for film project submissions Durban FilmMart 2020 is encouraging filmmakers to submit projects. PROJECT submissions for the 11th Durban FilmMart (DFM), Africa’s leading film industry co-production market, close…
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People
15 January 2020
Amaka Igwe - Google Doodle Honours Nigerian Filmmaker On 57th Posthumous Birthday Late veteran Nollywood filmmaker, Amaka Igwe, has been honoured with a Google Doodle on her 57th posthumous birthday.…
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Events
15 January 2020
Animation du Monde 2020 returns to DISCOP Abidjan ANIMATION DU MONDE 2020 @ DISCOP ABIDJAN Animation du Monde 2020 returns to DISCOP Abidjan in partnership with the African Animation Network…
