Issue no 100 - 15th March 2011
Top Story
Gabonese Free-To-Air and Pay TV operator using DTT wants to expand across Africa, searching partners
TNT Africa is the brand name of Digital TV, a private Gabonese company that offers FTA and Pay TV bouquets using a digital DTT platform. As in many African countries, the private sector is outpacing the Government in moving ahead with the digital transition. Sylvain Béletre from Balancing Act (market research and consultancy company) talked to Morgan Juteau, Development Manager at Digital TV about the ambitions of the company.TNT Africa carried out a DTT pilot in Gabon in October 2009 and launched shortly thereafter, making Gabon the first in Central Africa to get DTT, and the fourth on the continent…
Broadcast
African pay TV market targeted with Kenya FX launch
The best in blockbuster television shows started screening in Kenya on Tuesday, 1 March 2011 when FX began broadcasting in the East African country on Zuku TV. FX, which started…
Broadcast
The market for TV services in Africa is developing at a fast pace
In 2010, Sub-Saharan Africa had 34.5 million TV households, forecastto grow to 42.1m by 2015. Among them, at least 3.5 million households arepay TV subscriber, representing a penetration of 11%.…
Broadcast
MultiChoice fights scammers with tech
Phishing scammers have copied information from the real DStv site and are using it to lure subscribers into parting with their details on a fake portal. Pay-television service provider MultiChoice…
Broadcast
MTG rolls out African nets, unveils 'TV Everywhere'
European broadcast giant Modern Times Group (MTG) is expanding the presence of its Viasat pay-TV channels in Africa from the end of this month. MTG will debut four channels -…
Broadcast
Broadcast - In Brief
In South Africa, Treasury has allocated R1.192 billion to the Department of Communications to fund a new television network and subsidise set-top boxes for the poor over the next three…
Content
Fespaco 2011: Creating strategies to distribute African films globally
Fespaco, the ‘Biennale of African Cinema’ took place in Ouagadougou for a week from 22nd February to 5 March 2011. Participants at Fespaco talked about how to introduce strategies to…
Content
East Africa: Nairobi hosts AMA Awards but region’s industry faces problems
To prove that East Africa in general is not a movie production backwater, Nairobi recently hosted the Africa Movie Awards (AMA) nominations ceremony, dubbed the Oscars of Africa, which brought…
Content
AiM Film Festival 2011: Focus on Children and Youth in African Cinema
Now that 2010’s celebrations are over, organisers of AiM in Edinburgh are in the planning stages of the next Africa in Motion Film Festival to be held from Thursday 27…
Content
Successful Cinema Mondial Tour in Africa extended
The Cinema Mondial Tour in Africa, which started in July 2010, is to continue for a second season. The Cinema Mondial Tour continues in 2011-2012 with a new programme of…
Content
Content - In Brief
In January 2011 the UNESCO Office in Cairo, in cooperation with the Cairo University, has launched a project to strengthen journalism education and communication research in Egypt. This initiative aims…
Distribution
BET Networks’ top-rated late night talk show makes debut on SABC
On 10 March 2011, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), announced the sale of BET Networks’ top-rated late night talk show, The Mo’Nique…
Distribution
A24 Media launches Africa’s Voice programme
On the audiovisual side, A24 Media is a popular distributor of video material about Africa that reflects what it sees as the true nature of the continent. It has just…
Distribution
Distribution - In Brief
A newcomer to the African broadcasting sector became known as part of the 22nd edition of Fespaco: Afrik.tv. Joakim Afoutni, the editor of the webTV explained that the new video…
Technology & Convergence
Google to help digitise Madiba and Tutu archives including audio-visual materials
On March 8th 2011, Google has announced a $1,25 million (ZAR 8,6 million rand) grant to the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, housed at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, that will…
Technology & Convergence
Remote development via cell phone videos
A farmer in Niger learns how to protect his crops from insects. A resident of Port-au-Prince or a rural Haitian village learns how to avoid exposure to cholera. An entrepreneur…
Technology & Convergence
Technology & Convergence - In Brief
March 8th 2011, the BBC has launched BBC 104.7FM in Ghana's Western Region, from a transmitter based just outside Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana's third largest media market and the country's new oil…
Regulation & Policy
Libya: TV jammed, journalists confined, Internet disconnected
On 4 March 2011, Reporters Without Borders deplored the way the Gaddafi regime prevented journalists from covering the anti-government protests that followed Friday prayers in Tripoli today.Ever since the start…
Regulation & Policy
ACPFilms inaugurates its free legal assistance service for all cinema and audiovisual professionals
"Knowledge of legal principles applicable and the use of complete and properly drawn up contracts are prerequisites to the success of an activity like cinema and audiovisual production. Incomplete knowledge…
Regulation & Policy
Regulation & Policy - In Brief
A film crew made up of three Senegalese and two French citizens were on Febuary 19, 2011 arrested and detained for three days by Gendarmerie in Ziguinchor, a town in…
Investment
The African Film Library of Ouagadougou renews its investments in African film heritage
The African Film Library of Ouagadougou was established in 1989 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of FESPACO on the initiative of African filmmakers who had it in mind…
Investment
Private equity firm ECP upbeat on Africa growth including TV
Africa offers plenty of scope for private equity investments, with at least another decade of strong growth expected from consumer goods, broadband internet and financial services, the co-head of one…
Investment
Investment - In Brief
During Fespaco, the European Commission has confirmed its 2011 support to the African cultural sector with a total budget of 30 million Euros through EU-ACP Films (European Union - African,…
More
Events
15th March 2011BOBTV conference, exhibition and trade showAfrican film and TV programmes expo Venue: Abuja, NigeriaTopic: new media tech For further information click here: 22nd - 27th March 2011Festival Cinema…
More
People
French TV mag "Africans in Paris” provokes a storm Sunday 6th March 2011 in prime time, ‘Enquêtes exclusive’ - an investigation magazine on M6 TV channel in France produced by…
More
People - In Brief
Uganda: A presenter at Masaka-based Top Radio, Ssozi Lyazi Ssekimpi, is reported to have been suspended over a talk show which discussed electoral malpractice witnessed during recent presidential and parliamentary…
More
Opportunities
Call for Films: 5th Kids for Kids Africa Festival On Monday, 07 March 2011, the Nairobi-based Lola Kenya Screen audiovisual media festival, skill-development mentorship programme and market for children and…
