Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 297 – 21 September 2018
Top Story
Ghana – GIBA says StarTimes to get DTT contract, Government denies it but situation as clear as mud
21 September 2018
The course of digital migration in Africa rarely seems to run straight and Ghana is no exception to this rule. The Government is now approaching the tenth year of the process with no clear end in sight. Russell Southwood looks at the many twists and turns and what might happen. In 2008 Government broadcaster GBC ran a DTT pilot in Accra. It then teamed up with Swedish company Next Generation Broadcasting (NGB) through its local subsidiary Skyy Digital (now First Digital) and extended the roll-out to Kumasi Takoradi by 2010. At this point, the regulator intervened saying that there had…
Broadcast
Two Malawian filmmakers up for 2018 AMVCAs
21 September 2018
Harare --- At least two Zambian filmmakers, Joyce Mhango Chavula and Shemu Joyah, are up for Best Movie in Southern Africa category in the upcoming sixth edition of the Africa…
Broadcast
Meet the Director of 'Fig Tree,' a New Film About Young Love in the Midst of the Ethiopian Civil War
21 September 2018
At TIFF, we talk to Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian, the Ethiopian-Israeli filmmaker telling a story that has parallels to her own life To be 16, in love, and in the middle of…
Broadcast
61 short films to screen at Cape Town International Film Festival
21 September 2018
Cape Town - The Cape Town International Film Market and Festival has selected 61 short films that will screen across 10 programs at select venues at the V & A…
Broadcast
StarTimes Acquires Exclusive Broadcasting Rights For UEFA Europa League
21 September 2018
Africa's leading Pay-TV operator StarTimes Ghana Limited, has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights for Union of European Football Association (UEFA) Europa League in Sub-Saharan Africa. The broadcast, which would begin…
Broadcast
'Self-hate stifling local film industry'
21 September 2018
This year’s edition of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) experienced a very low turnout which organisers said was due to lack of support for the local film industry. Celebrating…
Broadcast
Cape Town International Film Festival announces opening film
21 September 2018
The Cape Town International Film Market and Festival (CTIFMF) announced the official opening night film that will be screened at the Artscape Theatre on 9 October. Jahmil X.T Qubeka’s Sew…
Broadcast
'Rafiki' Director Wanuri Kahiu Is Suing Kenya's Film Board to Make Way for Oscars Qualification
21 September 2018
The Kenyan filmmaker continues to fight for her film to be screened in her home country. Wanuri Kahiu's RAFIKI has received its due praise on the film festival circuit since…
Content
Reuters launches mobile-first news video service, Africa Journal
21 September 2018
LONDON – 19 September 2018 - Reuters announced today it is expanding its African video offering with a mobile-first news video service, Africa Journal. Africa Journal tells the stories of…
Content
STROOP to open Wildlife Film Festival in Rotterdam
21 September 2018
Following on from the slew of invitations to screen at a number of high profile US film festivals, STROOP - Journey into the Rhino Horn War, has now been selected…
Content
Netflix swoops on TIFF selection 'Lionheart'
21 September 2018
Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to TIFF selection Lionheart, its first Netflix Original film from Nigeria, which premiered in Discovery on Friday. Nollywood star Genevieve Nnaji makes her directorial debut…
Content
Netflix now has 50 local partners and growing
21 September 2018
These were a couple of points raised by Maria Ferreras, Netflix’s vice-president of business development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, during a presentation and wide-ranging question and answer…
Content
Netflix is starting to take Africa’s largest movie industry seriously
21 September 2018
Netflix is finally putting its $8 billion original production budget to work in Nigeria’s Nollywood movie industry. The global streaming giant purchased worldwide rights to Lionheart, it’s first original film…
Content
Disney Africa to celebrate Mickey Mouse's 90th birthday in November in South Africa with exhibition of statues customised by local artists, Mickey's 90th Spectacular TV special on M-Net.
21 September 2018
The Walt Disney Company SA will celebrate the 90th birthday of Mickey Mouse on 18 November in South Africa with a nationwide exhibition of 10 localised Mickey Mouse statuettes by…
Content
SASOD to screen award-winning African movie
21 September 2018
As the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) continues its Painting the Spectrum 14 Film Festival, award-winning African film Tchindas will be one of the two screenings that explore lesbian,…
Distribution
Strand Releasing acquires Egyptian Oscar submission 'Yomeddine'
21 September 2018
Strand Releasing has acquired all North American rights from CAA and Wild Bunch to A.B. Shawky’s feature directorial debut Egyptian Oscar submission Yomeddine. The film premiered in competition in Cannes…
Distribution
MBC to launch new content subsidiary for MENA
21 September 2018
Saudi-owned media company MBC has launched a new subsidiary to produce premium films, television and on-demand content, aimed at audiences both within the Middle East and around the globe, Rapidtvnews…
Investment
MultiChoice South Africa says it seeks to make DStv competitive after report of plans to cut jobs
21 September 2018
MultiChoice said that its DStv service will not be hit in any way, as it seeks to transform the business, reports MyBroadband. The broadcaster is reportedly considering job cuts in…
Investment
Set free by Naspers, MultiChoice plots its path
21 September 2018
Discarded by its globe-trotting parent Naspers after more than three decades, African pay-TV heavyweight MultiChoice Group is facing an uncertain future. The broadcaster of English Premier League soccer and hit…
Regulation & Policy
Don’t hand digital migration contract to StarTimes – GIBA warns government
21 September 2018
The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) wants the government to end negotiations with the Chinese firm, StarTimes over Ghana’s Terrestrial Television (DTT) infrastructure immediately. According to GIBA, the project which…
Regulation & Policy
NCC Accuses 2 TV Stations of Piracy, Theft
21 September 2018
Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC) said it may shut down ABG Communications and QQTV Digital Satellite Station for piracy and illegal broadcast of foreign television contents, after a surveillance visit to…
Regulation & Policy
in brief
21 September 2018
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will make hundreds of its employees redundant, reports Sowetan Live.
Technology & Convergence
IBC Awards judges honour Econet for TV everywhere in sub-Saharan Africa
21 September 2018
Audiences everywhere now expect to be able to access content on any device, at any location, at any time. Realising this ambition, Econet Media, which serves southern Africa, is to…
Technology & Convergence
Alpha Media Holding to launch online TV, radio in Zimbabwe
21 September 2018
Alpha Media Holding (AMH) says it will soon launch an online radio and television station after having been awarded a licence by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). Alpha Media…
Technology & Convergence
Google Launches Data-Light YouTube Mobile App For South Africans With Slow Internet
21 September 2018
A specialized data-light version of the the Google-owned online video service, called YouTube Go, has been made available to South African users through the launch of a mobile app in…
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People
21 September 2018
Phumzile Zonke has been appointed as the new SABC1 channel head to steer the South African public broadcaster's most watched TV channel and the most watched TV channel in the…
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Opportunities
21 September 2018
SAFTAs 13 – entries now open As part of honouring, celebrating and rewarding talent, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Arts and…
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Events
21 September 2018
MIPCOM - The world's entertainment content market15-18 October 2018, Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France MIPCOM brings together the world’s top TV and digital content executives for four days of meetings,…
