Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa Issue no. 137 29 August 2012
Top Story
FrontlineSMS bring a free, innovative solution to African broadcasters
As TV and radio broadcast markets intensify across several liberalized African countries, broadcasters need to find solutions to create more interactive communication with their audiences and build loyalty among them. SMS is one of those. There are a few SMS management software available out there but FrontlineSMS, a rather discreet solution provider has already been in the front line to support several African broadcasters. Sylvain Beletre, Senior Analyst, Balacing Act talked to Amy O'Donnell, Project Manager at FrontlineSMS on how SMS can be a very powerful media tool.Looking at recent audience surveys across the African market, it is obvious that…
Broadcast
eNews launches 'daunting' eNCA
The eNews Channel on MultiChoice's DStv platform has changed its name to eNCA with a new mosaic logo depicting the continent of Africa as the independent 24-hour news channel went…
Broadcast
CCTV Africa begins live broadcast to China
The countdown starts and the Kenyan news reader runs through the top headlines for the evening bulletin. In a few minutes he will go on air in Nairobi, broadcasting live…
Broadcast
The Power of Sport and Television for Africa
Television has transformed the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, and European Football Champions League into lucrative multi-billion-dollar undertakings creating a frenzy of bidding for the TV rights for the events.…
Broadcast
“South Sudan: The World’s Youngest Nation” to air soon across Africa
The first-time documentary film by Newfoundlander Matthew LeRiche opens with a dimly lit closeup of young man rapping smoothly into the camera.He’s young; he’s hip; he’s the future of South…
Broadcast
Broadcast News - In Brief
- MultiChoice subsidiary M-Net wants access to more radio frequency spectrum than it has provisionally been allocated in the draft digital terrestrial television (DTT) regulations, it said at Independent Communications…
Content
Why Nigeria's film industry can't yet square up to Hollywood
Nollywood is in a transitional phase, but its still has some way to go to be truly mainstream.A bright-green kit car marked "51 Nigeria" stands under grey skies, yards from…
Content
Namibia: Ramata Screened At Goethe Centre
Ramata is an African documentary screened in the Goethe Centre Auditorium, courtesy of AfricAvenir, a company that has been screening films in Namibia in the series of "African Perspectives" since…
Content
The UK's Colonial Film Catalogue, a database of more than 6000 films
'African Urbanism' discusses the UK's Colonial Film Catalogue, a database* of more than 6000 films, which provides a window into British colonial period (Over 350 of the most important films…
Content
Mobile Entertainment Africa event back in Cape Town
As a piece of technology the mobile device has had an incredible affect across the world. The geographical nature of Africa as a continent and the lack of previous fixed…
Content
Content News - In Brief
- Shot in South Africa, set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 'The Dinosaur Project' purports to be found footage from an expedition led by a TV adventurer that…
Distribution
MultiChoice entrenches its monopoly
The TV giant has consolidated its impregnable position in terrestial and satellite broadcasting in Africa. Lloyd Gedye reports.As the Zambezi River surged past in the background, destined to plummet 100m…
Distribution
ReelAfrican.com releases African hit movie series 'Adams Apples'
ReelAfrican.com, an online platform for African and Caribbean film and TV series in the United States, debuts the ten-part dramatic African hit movie series Adams Apples, on Thursday, August 30th,…
Distribution
Distribution News - In Brief
- Businesses are … beginning to tap into the desire of millions of its consumers to access entertainment online. One of the best examples is in Nigeria, where the stunning…
Technology & Convergence
Digital pay TV company eyes Kenya's key towns
Kenya's digital pay TV market is becoming more competitive with the aggressive entry of StarTimes Media Kenya, a company that recently launched its services in Kenya's capital Nairobi and second…
Technology & Convergence
South Africa: Another R7 billion needed for digital TV
The project to migrate South Africa’s TV from analogue to digital broadcasting needs another R7 billionBetween the requirements of the Department of Communications (DoC), SABC, and Sentech, the budget shortfall…
Technology & Convergence
New initiative for the African digital TV industry - Africa Page
Netherland-based Exset today announced the launch of its Africa initiative for the African digital TV industry - Africa Page - at the SABA (Southern African Broadcasting Association) CEO Summit on…
Technology & Convergence
Technology & Convergence News - In Brief
- Black-owned investment company Kagiso Media would like to launch both subscription and free-to-air television services but will only do so if the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) crafts…
Regulation & Policy
Tension high in Gabon, opposition says TV station torched
Tension reigned Thursday in oil-rich Gabon where the main opposition said its television station was torched after violent clashes between its supporters and police in the capital Libreville.But the government…
Regulation & Policy
Call for feedback on TV content piracy: state of the market survey to best practices
Like in other parts of the world, the African audiovisual industry faces the challenge of content piracy. But combatting content piracy is a rather tricky business.Ahead of major African TV…
Regulation & Policy
Regulation & Policy News - In Brief
- The week-long strike that silenced the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) radio and television services ended on 22 Aug. 2012. NBC Director-General Albertus Aochamub went live with an announcement welcoming…
Investment
Nigeria: Dons seek investment in educational TV
If Nigeria can emulate South Africa by establishing an educational television channel, performance in public examinations could improve, some educationists have said.This is coming as outgoing president of the Science…
Investment
Extreme sports film from Award-winning South African filmmakers using crowd-source funding
Inspiring Ghanaian polio survivors pioneer extreme sports combination of skating and soccer / Award-winning South African filmmakers crowd-source funding via Kickstarter for the documentarySkate soccer won’t be featured at this…
Investment
Investment News - In Brief
- Investments in Tencent Holdings Ltd. (700), China’s biggest Internet company, and Mail.ru (MAIL), the largest Russian-language Internet firm and a 1.5 percent owner of Facebook Inc. (FB), account for…
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Events
11-12 September 2012 The Internet Show Africa Venue: Sandton Convention Centre - Johannesburg, SA. Africa's only internet business event. Free educational seminars and exhibition on digital advertising and marketing, web 2.0…
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People
Nollywood actress visits JamaicaNigeria actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, has thrown out a challenge to Hollywood filmmakers to visit Africa and discover great stories.The actress, who is in Jamaica on business…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Call for training for TV producersThe Sediba International Financing Programme, aimed at "experienced" and "emerging" producers in television drama & feature film products, is geared at offering focused training in…
