Issue no 15 15 October 2007
Top Story
African broadcasting freedom of expression: the strange case of the dog that didn't bark
Freedom of expression in the media has not been the kind of hot political issue in Africa that it should have been. A small but tireless group of NGOs plugs away at the issue year after year but it’s not something that seems to catch light: the man or woman on the matatu is not generally discussing it. Africa’s first generation of nationalist politicians seem to have successfully persuaded their peoples that stomachs came before mouths. This week sees the publication of a UNESCO study of what might sound the rather dryly titled Media Legislation in Africa: A comparative legal…
Content
Uganda: GTV to Broadcast 72 League Matches
Six matches of the new Super Division soccer league season will be broadcast live by GTV, officials said last week. The firm's agent Neil Mackenzie, said that broadcasts of 72…
Content
South Africa: Emmy, Golden Globe Star Filming Miniseries
Judy Davis, 2007 Emmy winner of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, The Starter Wife, has recently been in South Africa for filming of the lead in Rough,…
Content
Rwanda: Satellite TV Wars Begin
Two of Africa's leading pay-TV companies Gateway broadcasting's GTV and DSTV's Super Sport have shown keen interest in sponsoring this year's Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup that is slated for November…
Content
Zimbabwe: M-Net broadens its Content Offer with five more Channels
Multichoice will next month add five new channels to its DStv Premium bouquet in order to provide a wide range of information, entertainment and education to viewers. Launching on consecutive…
Content
Namibia: GTV Launched television services
New pay television station, GTV Namibia, was launched on last Friday after it received a broadcast licence the week before. According to Johan Schutte, Director of the Namibia Communication Commission…
Content
Senegal: New TV frequency authorisations have been issued
The CEO of Wal Fadjri group referred to "the advancement of the Senegalese democracy ' following the granting by the government of a TV frequency to its media group. 'It…
Content
Algeria: Two new Television stations and Radio for the national Broadcasting Company
As part of its program to modernize its infrastructure and its deployment throughout the national territory Broadcasting Company Algeria (TDA) has signed a contract with the American group Harris Corp.…
Content
Rwanda: New FM Station Coming
A new FM radio station, Amazing Grace, will hit the country's airwaves soon. The Christian station has already been granted permission to get a radio frequency, Pastor Gregg Schoof, on…
Distribution
Nigeria: Bonanza As HiTV Offers Free Airtime to Subscribers
In a move that has been described as unprecedented, HiTV, Nigerian owned pay television station, has announced a one-month free subscription for all existing subscribers, applicable in October 2007. The…
Distribution
Côte d'Ivoire: Canal + Horizons denounces piracy
At the launch of its new programs for 2007-2008, Ms. Françoise Leguenou-Remarck the CEO of Canal+Horizons denounced excessive rate of piracy of its encrypted programs. According to her "the phenomenon…
Investment
South Africa: Pay-Television Entrants Want 20-Year Licence to Recoup their Investment
As the first bout of public hearings into broadcasting licence conditions got under way, Telkom Media and the National Association of Broadcasters both requested that new pay-television entrants be given…
Investment
Nigeria: Major Investments expected as the Country Prepares for 3G Services
Third Generation (3G) mobile services could become operational in Nigeria in the next few weeks after the four GSM operators reported that tests for the release of the services had…
Regulation & Policy
Africa: UNESCO’s New Publication on Media Legislation in Africa
With support from UNESCO, a publication on media legislation in Africa has just been released, result of a research undertaken by a team of African scholars, coordinated by Professor Guy…
Regulation & Policy
Congo: Journalists Detained in Mugunga
Two journalists of the Daily Monitor have been detained in Mugunga, 15 kilometres south of Goma town in the DR Congo. Paul Harera Sebikali and Robert Isaur were arrested by…
Technology & Convergence
Kenya: Country's First Web-Based TV Broadcaster
Competition in Kenya's broadcasting market has moved a notch higher with the launch of a new Internet-based television station. Known as Kenya 2.0, the service offers local viewers and Kenyans…
Technology & Convergence
South Africa: African readers get access to information via cellphones
A South African newspaper last Sunday became the first on the continent to offer readers the opportunity to access information via cellphones with Internet connectivity. The Sunday Times is inviting…
