Issue no. 105, 26 May 2011
Top Story
New TV formats for Africa looking for sponsors
One stepping stone from buying international content to producing more local content is the use of TV formats that have established themselves elsewhere. Reality and game shows have already established themselves in the market but there is a wider range of formats out there. Africa Interactive, a fast growing multimedia press and content agency in Africa, has put together some interesting TV formats aimed at the African market and Africa lovers globally. Sylvain Béletre from Balancing Act interviewed Pieter Van Twisk, CEO of Africa Interactive to find out more.Q: You are entering the African TV market with some innovative TV…
Broadcast
Kenya to license more signal distributors
The Kenyan Government has cleared he way for two more competitors to join the broadcast signal distribution business, in efforts to ensure the country completes its digital migration head of…
Broadcast
Uganda: Police Raid UBC, Board Suspended
Police with the support of other security organs on Friday night stormed the government broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation offices, and locked up offices of the top managers before suspending the…
Broadcast
Cameroon: CRTV to launch new programmes
The General Manager of CRTV last week announced the launching that includes several of "must watch" productions. The Cameroon Radio and Television Corporation (CRTV), dubbed the "heart of the nation",…
Broadcast
Libya: Radio Free Libya transmits live from Misurata
For residents of besieged Misurata, all it takes is a flick of the dial to tune in to freedom. Broadcasting revolutionary songs, news, and debate, Radio Free Libya Misurata is…
Broadcast
Broadcast - In Brief
- For around ten years, TV5Monde has chosen to be present at the Cannes Festival in the southern film pavilion, renamed the World Film Pavilion two years ago.This presence is…
Content
The Dinosaur Project shoots in South Africa
Variety is reporting that The Dinosaur Project (tentative title) starts shooting this month – May 2011 - in South Africa. The film marks the directorial debut feature from CGI experts…
Content
'Terrorist Nelson Mandela' portrayal in film by Peter Kosminsky
Peter Kosminsky, who made the controversial Israel-Palestine drama The Promise, is to make a film about Nelson Mandela's early life in South Africa, Vanessa Thorpe reported in the Observer, Sunday…
Content
Nigeria: Aina director Olamide Maarore talks about his new film
US-based filmmaker, Olamide Maarore, is set to become one of those changing the face of Nigeria’s movie industry with his debut film, ‘Aina’, which he wrote, produced and directed. He…
Content
Nigeria: Lagos Gets Approval for Traffic Radio Station
Lagos State Government has secured a license to operate a radio station to be solely dedicated to traffic information and other safety issues. Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, who…
Content
Content - In Brief
- Representing the Ministry of Culture and the Arts for the DRC, Ms. Jeannette Kavira Mapeera closed the first of the Congolese film week (Sefico) held from May 3 to…
Distribution
Cinetoile highlights achievements and asks: what next?
Cinetoile, an African cinema network which has already organized 250 film screenings for hundred of thousand spectators in 8 African countries organised a conference on Wednesday 11th May 2011 in…
Distribution
NFVF sponsored nine film-makers to go to Cannes Festival
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) led the South Africa delegation to the Cannes International Film Festival scheduled from 11 – 21 May 2011 in Cannes, France. The festival…
Distribution
Distribution - In Brief
- In Cannes, 12 young filmmakers were invited to participate to Made of World Cinema, a program established by the Pavilion “Cinemas of the World” to promote the emergence of…
Investment
Nigeria: StarTimes Hits 400,000 Subscriber Base
Latest entrant to the Nigerian Pay TV market, popularly known as StarTimes, has grown subscriber base to 400,000 in barely 10 months in operation in Nigeria.Speaking in an interview with…
Investment
Angola: Government to build 25 media libraries by 2015
The Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Pedro Sebastião Teta, Wednesday, in Lubango, Huila province, said that the Government intends to build over the next four years 25 multimedia…
Investment
Investment - In Brief
- At Cannes festival, Doha Film Institute (DFI) executive director Amanda Palmer said that DFI has awarded five post-production, 12 production and eight development grants for filmmakers from the MENA…
Regulation & Policy
Ghana: Teacher calls for sign language inclusion on all TV stations
If you have ever doubted the importance of sign language inclusion on Ghana Television (GTV) for hearing impaired persons, you are completely wrong, according to a teacher at the Gbeogo…
Regulation & Policy
Uganda: TV journalist detained after filming MP's arrest
Wavah Broadcasting Service (WBS) TV journalist Williams Ntege was arrested by anti-riot police on 2 May after he was caught filming the arrest of Kampala female Member of Parliament (MP)…
Regulation & Policy
Regulation & Policy - In Brief
- A court in Uganda’s Mpigi district has dismissed a case of publishing false news against Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) FM journalist Yoweri Musisi.
Technology & Convergence
Cannes: AfricaFilms.tv goes Beta
Dakar-based ‘’VOD - 100% AFRICA’’ portal – is bringing 400 films to a worldwide audience. As planned by its director (see Balancing Act interview by Sylvain Béletre last month), AfricaFilms.tv,…
Technology & Convergence
Cinemaducameroun.com displays the Cameroonian film industry
Cinemaducameroun.com is not only a review site for moviegoers. It is above all a multitude of tools at the service of the Cameroonian film production industry. It highlights news, investment…
Technology & Convergence
Technology & Convergence - In Brief
- On the basis of the success of the 2010 tour, Philips has announced the ‘2011 Cape Town to Cairo road show’; a journey in which Philips will travel across…
More
Events
2 April – 31 May, 2011African film festival (AFF) in NYC (18th Edition)Venue: NYC, USA, various locations.The festival will feature a gallery exhibition, fashion show, panel discussions, Q&As with directors…
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People
Management team at South Africa’s pay-TV challenger, TopTV celebrated its first birthday this month, May 2011. Owned by On Digital Media, the TV station was the second payTV player to…
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Opportunities
Bloomberg is looking for freelance reporters in 16 African countries.Bloomberg, the U.S. financial news agency, seeks reporters with familiarity in business, financial and economic reporting. Freelancers must have a minimum…
