Issue no 16 29 October 2007
Top Story
MTV Networks Africa launches events to “up the game” of video makers
Alex Okosi, MTV Networks Africa’s MD believes passionately that Africa can and should compete with best of the world in terms of music videos. It is the life-blood of the channels MTV runs in Africa. So next week, together with Shell as sponsor, it is launching a series of events to help makers “up their game”. This is probably the first time a major broadcaster has sponsored a series of programme making events. When it started, the number of African music videos of quality was pretty low but Okosi was unwilling to compromise the quality of the output. And for…
Content
Botswana: PLC Negotiates Broadcasting Deal With Btv
The Premier League Committee (PLC) secretary, Setete Phuthego said last week that they are negotiating with the state-owned Botswana Television (Btv) to broadcast the Mascom Premier League games. He said…
Content
Botswana: Vision Tracks to be Aired On Sabc-2
Director and producer of the documentary Vision Tracks, Kagiso Booysen flew to South Africa lasst week to promote the film on SABC-2 today. Launched in June by Environment, Wildlife and…
Content
Africa: CNBC Africa Kenya Deal
CNBC Africa programmes will soon be viewed free-to-air in Nairobi, Kenya. A broadcast deal between the business broadcaster and Kenya's Capital will enable the terrestrial station's viewers to pick up…
Content
South Africa: Zikalala Tells of 'Positive News' Policy At SABC
The journalistic mindset of South Africa’s public broadcaster SABC came into sharp focus last week when its Head of News spelled out its “no go” areas. SABC head of news…
Content
Uganda: South Africans to Train Vision TV, Radio Teams
A team of six broadcasters is in Kampala to train New Vision journalists on how best to integrate radio and television into Uganda's leading print setup and website to create…
Content
South Africa: Cape's TV And Radio Signals Go Awol
The inhabitants of Cape Town were left without television or radio signals on Wednesday afternoon - but no culprit has been identified. All three SABC television channels, as well as…
Content
Cameroon: New TV Channel Closed Down
The chaos of the Cameroonian licensing process continues. Activities of a private television station called New TV have been closed down. The action follows an order from the Ministry of…
Content
Namibia: NBC Workers Threaten Strike
Hundreds of disgruntled Namibian Broadcasting Corporation workers have threatened to take industrial action over wages during the Swapo Party Congress, one of the employees said. The employees last week held…
Distribution
Namibia: Broadcasters Zero in on World Cup Showcase
The Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA), an association of state-run broadcasters in the region, has identified the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa, as one of its…
Distribution
South Africa: SA's Most Expensive World Cup TV AD
The most expensive 30-second ad in South Africa's television history was auctioned last week, with the highest bid going to Supa Quick and its partner advertising agency, TinFish CLM Advertising.…
Technology & Convergence
Africa: MacPower's D7-3500 brings digital media to the home
Ingram Micro South Africa has announced the local availability of the MacPower D7-3500 media adapter - a compact high-performance and feature rich digital media player that substantially reduces the complexity…
Technology & Convergence
Nigeria: ITU Defines Future of Mobile Telecommunications
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radiocommunication Assembly has approved new developments for its 3G standards. The assembly, which met ahead of the Radiocommunication conference which commenced on Monday at the International…
Technology & Convergence
Kenya: Country Makes a Technology Leap With Mobile TV
Mobile phone owners are set to have a new addition to their menu following the launch by a digital broadcaster of a service that will stream television content to their…
Regulation & Policy
Somalia: Government Harassing the Media, Warns HRW
The Somali transitional government is systematically harassing journalists and has failed to protect the fledgling independent media in the war-ravaged Horn of Africa country, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).…
Regulation & Policy
Niger: Media Regulatory Body Threatens to Close Radio And Television Stations
The High Communications Council (CSC), the media regulatory body, has threatened to withdraw the licence of any radio or television station that allows journalists to criticise the CSC. The Media…
Regulation & Policy
Congo-Kinshasa: Thirty-Eight Broadcasters Banned
A Congolese government minister invited two television journalists to his office in the capital, Kinshasa, and then ordered police to beat them when they arrived, according to news reports and…
Investment
Angola: Cableco gains USD21 million expansion loan
TVCabo in Angola has received a EUR15 million (USD21 million) loan from The European Investment Bank, to finance the construction of a two-way broadband cable network in and around the…
Investment
South Africa: Mweb Buys Afsat Giving Firm Foothold in Africa
MWEB, a subsidiary of South African media and communications conglomerate Naspers has bought satellite data transmission services company Afsat communications. This acquisition gives the company a foothold in 26 African…