Issue No 189 10 October 2014
Top Story
A Freeze Frame of African Audiences’ Changing Media Behaviour – the users and what they are doing
4 market reports to download for FREE!African Audiences’ Changing Media Behaviour - Key Trends: In 2013 Balancing Act carried out a detailed market research study in seven Sub-Saharan countries in the vanguard of adopting the Internet and social media. The study has four parts – which are available for free as downloads – and looks at how the Internet and social media are changing Africa’s communications and media landscape.Russell Southwood highlights some of the key findings from the study that are directly relevant to those working in Africa’s broadcast media.The study has three components: nationally representative face-to-face surveys; a survey of…
Broadcast
South African TV show Generations cut short as cast fired in pay dispute
Seven million fans of South Africa’s most popular television soap opera will be cut off from their daily dose of drama this week after the entire cast was sacked for…
Broadcast
AFRICA24 Media launches talk show called The Scoop!
AFRICA24 MEDIA have launched a talk show called The Scoop! with Salim Amin as the host. The show’s producers say that the continent’s most dynamic men and women join Salim…
Broadcast
Zuku recommissions third series of award-winning Tales from the Bush Larder
East African triple-play service provider Zuku, part of African Media company Wananchi Group, announces that award-winning hybrid cooking and travel series, Tales from The Bush Larder, will return for a…
Broadcast
Four African Films Vie For Foreign Language Oscar Nomination
With the 2015 Academy Awards a mere four months away, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the full list of films vying for the Oscar for…
Broadcast
Everyone’s favourite zombie fighters return to Fox with season 5 of The Walking Dead
The undead return for yet another thrilling season in October. Calling all the DEADicated fans of the popular award-winning The Walking Dead - the time has come! A brand new…
Content
Aflix Extends To 30 African Countries
Newly launched mobile video streaming app, Aflix, which was initially launched in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, has extended its Hollywood mobile streaming service in thirty other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.The…
Content
StarTimes unveils new Hausa channel
StarTimes has unveiled a new Hausa channel, Dadin Kowa. The channel is dedicated to airing a variety of Hausa programmes, which include drama, documentary, talk shows, movies, music and education.Ayokunle…
Content
Three new channels set for DStv
If there is one thing any TV fan in South Africa would agree with, it would be the exponential growth of several channels in the past 24 months. The viewer…
Content
Ubuntu Village film project inspires connection and understanding
The Ubuntu Village project is a film driven initiative which began as a festival at Colorado State University (CSU) in 2011. Created by graduate Namuyaba Temanju, the project aims to…
Content
Kenya: Local broadcasters to air 40% local content or risk penalties from CAK
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has directed television stations operating in Kenya to air 40% local content or risk penalties from the authority.Although the authority is yet to come…
Content
KTN, NTV and Citizen back on StarTimes
Three major local stations KTN, NTV and Citizen which have been absent from the StarTimes pay TV platform are now back just two days after the Supreme Court made a…
Content
ODM launches Trace Sport Stars, QYOU channels
South African pay-DTH operator On Digital Media (ODM), is adding two channels, namely the US video clip linear TV channel QYOU and Trace Sports Stars. According to Nextvame, the channels…
Distribution
Aflix set to revolutionise Africa’s Video-On-Demand space
Video streaming app Aflix is set to revolutionise the African Video-On-Demand space. Initially launched in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, Aflix’s coverage has been extended to Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde,…
Distribution
The Africa Channel goes live on Virgin TV Anywhere
Not only has The Africa Channel moved to a new slot on the Virgin EPG, it is now available on Virgin TV Anywhere. For the first time ever you can…
Distribution
EbonyLife Spreads Dramatic Wings Across Africa
EbonyLife TV, one of Africa’s global entertainment and lifestyle networks, has launched in Southern Africa (including South Africa). The channel which was hitherto available to DStv customers in 44 countries…
Investment
Unilever Partners MOFILM To Launch Academy For African Filmmakers
Multinational consumer goods company, Unilever has launched “Academy for African Filmmakers (AAF),” an initiative that seeks to equip and elevate African Film industry to global standards.The initiative, which is in…
Investment
E.tv decries decline of free-to-air TV
Commercial broadcaster e.tv has raised concerns about the state of television in South Africa, pointing to what it says is the long-term decline of free-to-air TV, especially in the independent…
Investment
Kenya’s Wananchi Group Raises $130million to Expand into Southern Africa
Zuku pay tvHome entertainment and pay tv operator Wananchi Group has has raised $130 million from its existing and new investors in an expansion drive across East and southern Africa.Altice…
Regulation & Policy
Liberian watchdog meets broadcast media on new regulations
The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has held talks with broadcast media executives in a public consultation hearing to get input on the proposed new licence fee regulations that will come…
Technology & Convergence
Multichoice amplifies care services in Nigeria with road show
Provider of premium pay-TV content on DStv and GOtv platforms, Multichoice, has stepped up its consumer engagement drive in Nigeria with its DStv open house initiative. In furtherance of the…
Technology & Convergence
SA’s next VOD service arrives in 2015
On 1 February 2015, mobile digital broadcaster MobileTV is set to launch its VOD offering, TV4U, in South Africa. According to MobileTV founder Mothobi Mutloatse, the service will be more…
Technology & Convergence
SatLink Communications partners with Pi Telecom to deliver Cloud based “TV everywhere” Platform
New End-to-End Cloud Platform provides immediate OTT service to broadcasters and operators with unique monetisation features SatLink Communications, a global teleport, content management and HD playout services provider, has announced a…
Technology & Convergence
Belgium’s SatADSL partners local companies for financial and school broadcasting services
Belgium firm, SatADSL is set to provide financial and school broadcasting services with internet connectivity to remote areas in Kenya and Uganda using satellite technology.The Belgian firm has partnered with…
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Events
Announcement by PAMROThe conference due to be held in Ghana in August 2014 is now to be re-schedued to August 2015 due to the health concerns and restriction in travel…
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Opportunties
Scotland’s African In Motion Film Festival Screening Lineup AnnouncedThe 9th edition of the Africa In Motion Film Festival, Scotland’s African Film Festival, returns to Glasgow later this month to showcase…
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People
Roger leaves PANA TV to Set up saniFilmsPANA TV's CEO, Mandy Roger, has left the African online streaming service, to set up her own company, saniFilms, an African content aggregator…
