Issue no. 140 11 October 2012
Top Story
Thema TV launches a new TV channel from Nigeria: 'Nollywood TV' for French-speaking territories
Last week, Paris-based Thema officially launched a unique new TV channel for francophone markets based on Nollywood movies. Nollywood TV is part of Thema's Bouquet Africain Premium. The other novelty is that the channel offers Nollywood films entirely in French via full dubbing and not simply sub-titling or synths. The initial launch was scheduled for the start of October 2012 in France via 'Free', a popular French multiplay operator. Sylvain Beletre, Balancing Act’s Broadcast Analyst interviewed Clémentine Tugendhat, Head of Content and director of Nollywood TV at Thema. Q. What programs are shown on the channel? A. The programmes are 100%…
Broadcast
Zambia: eight new provincial television and radio stations
Media bodies have praised Government for budgeting about K89 billion meant for setting up of eight provincial television (TV) and radio stations in Zambia.Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) and the…
Broadcast
Lagardère focused on early exit from Canal+
French media and industrial group Lagardère wants to dispose of its stake in Canal Plus and disengage from the pay TV group “as quickly as possible”, according to Chief Financial…
Broadcast
What South Africans are watching on TV – Sport only in position nine, according to SAARF survey
It’s the biggest crowd puller on South African TV screens. With an average daily reach of almost two-million viewers, this television genre far outstrips any other. It’s not sport. It’s…
Broadcast
NTDC, DAAR Partner on Local TV content for hotels
The Chairman of DAAR Communications Group, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi has described the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe as a solitary crusader of tourism development…
Broadcast
Broadcast News - In Brief
- In South Africa on 20 September 2012, MTV changed its Channels. Over the past decade, MTV has evolved from a music channel to one focused on youth entertainment and…
Content
Endemol Africa: content for the African market
Interview with Sivan Pillay, Managing Director of content house Endemol South Africa, on the new shows his company has produced recently for the African market, and African appetite for global…
Content
Cooperation between Kenya Film Commission (KFC) and CNC
Film industry in Kenya is headed for a major boost following the implementation of the cooperation agreement between Kenya Film Commission (KFC) and the Centre National du Cinéma et de…
Content
Mauritius: Île Courts Short Film Festival, a development tool kit for the island's cinema industry
Since its creation, Île Courts – International Short Film Festival of Mauritius acts as a tool-kit for the development of cinema in Mauritius. Held from 25 to 29 September 2012, …
Content
Content News - In Brief
- In South Africa: Roger Horrocks has launched AfricaSUB to offer underwater filming and photography services for TV, documentaries, features and commercials. Roger was named South African Photographer of the…
Content
Uganda: National Public Dialogue on Freedom of Expression and Information
Media practitioners in Uganda on Sept.18 held a National Public Dialogue on Freedom of Expression and Information that was organised by The Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda where Pansy Tlakula,…
Distribution
Film 'Otelo Burning' makes its U.S. theatrical premiere
City of God meets Blue Crush in Otelo Burning, a beautiful, coming-of-age drama by award-winning filmmaker Sara Blecher. The new South African feature film presents a gripping story of township…
Distribution
Zuku has secured rights to French soccer
East Africa pay-TV operator Zuku has secured rights to broadcast Ligue 1 French football for the next three season in Kenya.Zuku Sports will broadcast five live and short-delay matches from…
Distribution
Distribution News - In Brief
- Pay-TV local content channel in South Africa Mzansi Magic, on the DStv platform, has scooped up the rights to screen the acclaimed Harry Belafonte documentary, Sing Your Song. The…
Investment
Zimbabwe: investing in local film, TV sector
Opinion: Growing up in Mufakose in the 1980s, life was very simple and basic. We would spend the day roaming the streets and in the evening we would huddle on…
Investment
South Africa: Guidelines for Foreign Film and Television incentive
Back in 10 May 2012, Minister Rob Davies approves amendments to foreign film television production and post-production incentive programme guidelines. Those guidelines have since been posted on one of the…
Investment
Charlie Sheen’s latest sitcom sold in Africa Sheen enters Africa.
An African TV channel has acquired exclusive rights to the first five seasons of Charlie Sheen’s latest sitcom, Anger Management.The first 10x30′ season of the US cable show will begin…
Investment
Investment News - In Brief
- Rollaball successfully reached its fundraising goal on Saturday, 22 September 2012, on Kickstarter, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. Big World Cinema’s documentary-in-progress raised $38 577 from…
Regulation & Policy
Fifteenth journalist killed, NUSOJ calls for an urgent action over “media nightmare”
In Somalia on October 1, 2012, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is enraged by today’s killing of fifteenth Somali journalist in Mogadishu so far this year.Ahmed Abdullahi Farah,…
Regulation & Policy
Uganda: UCC issues order on outdated TV devices
The Uganda Communications Commission has directed Star Times - a pay TV service provider - to immediately withdraw DVB-T1 set top boxes from the market. UCC issued the order after…
Regulation & Policy
Regulation & Policy - In Brief
- In Nigeria, after several protests from subscribers and members of the Catholic faith, DStv last Saturday reinstalled the Catholic channel, Eternal Word Television Network. Meanwhile, the DStv has via…
Technology & Convergence
Kenya: Digital Migration Date Uncertain
The exact date for Kenya's switch off from analogue to digital broadcasting now remains unknown as the countrywide infrastructure is still not in place, the Communications Commission of Kenya Director…
Technology & Convergence
TV5Monde released its online KPI
As part of its 20 years anniversary TV5Monde has released its latest key performance indicators (KPI) related to its online activities. Because access coming from Africa represent 330,000 monthly visits on…
Technology & Convergence
Technology & Convergence - In Brief
- South Africa: DStv Mobile, the mobile television division of pay-TV platform MultiChoice, has unveiled its new Walka 7, its latest handheld portable TV device with a seven-inch screen. It…
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Events
10 - 21 October 2012The 56th. BFI London Film Festivalvenue: London, UK.The 56th. BFI London Film Festival - from the 'British Film Institute' - includes several productions focused on Africa.…
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People
OSN makes senior appointments Middle east and north African pay TV operator OSN has appointed new directors of digital and business development. The operator has named David Hanson (picture, left) as…
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Jobs & Opportunities
Launch of the ACPCultures+ Programme's second Call for Proposals. The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States has the pleasure to inform you that the second Call…
