Issue no 2 doldrums (Pilot issue
Top Story
Digital cinema has the potential to take Africa’s under-invested film exhibitors out of the doldrums
Outside of Sub-Saharan Africa’s larger country markets, Africa’s cinemas are few in number relative to population sizes and nearly always in poor shape. A recent transition to digital cinema in South Africa shows that Africa can lead with technical innovations. But the impact of digital cinema may also have a role to play in reviving the sagging fortunes of Africa’s cinemas elsewhere. Russell Southwood looks at what might become possible. South Africa’s Central Point Communications with the support of Argil Venture Capital (a technology fund whose investors include Ernst & Young) has concluded the roll-out of digital cinema servers in…
Content
Nigeria: Winners Emerge on Quizline
More winners have emerged from the television interactive show, Quizline. Commenting on the winnings, Olu Akinlabi, General manager of GeTV, promoters of quiz line, pledged that his organization, GetTV would…
Content
South Africa: End of Open Time Will Hit M-Net Revenue
M-NET's free-to-air, open-time slot, which airs between 5pm and 7pm daily, stopped at the end of March. This will hit the channel's advertising revenue and remove a valuable branding opportunity…
Content
Tanzania: EATV Pays $6,250 for Taifa Tie
With the funfair that has come about because of Tanzania Taifa Stars' sitting atop its 2008 Nations Cup Group Seven, East Africa Television (EATV) has paid a whopping $6,250 (Tsh8m)…
Content
Kenya: KBC Acquires TV Rights
Canal France International (CFI) and Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) are now the official broadcasters of this year's World Cross Country Championships. NTV and French company Globe Cast were initially granted…
Content
Namibia: NBC is Now the Talk of the Nation
Political interference may be keeping the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) from airing controversial views. According to sources within the State-funded broadcaster, recent episodes of the popular panel discussion 'Talk of…
Content
Liberia: Concerned LBS Workers Want Speedy Probe
Concerned workers of the Liberia Broadcasting System have spotted delays by the Board of Directors in probing the LBS management of alleged financial and administrative mal-practices. In a release, the…
Content
Liberia: Sasstown Gets FM Radio Station
The Liberia media project has completed a new radio station in Sasstown, in Grand Kru County. Voice of Sasstown - FM 95, according to a statement, covers an area exceeding…
Content
South Africa: SABC to Open Bureau in Zimbabwe
One of Africa's biggest public broadcasters, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), plans to set up a bureau in Harare to enhance its coverage of events in the country. SABC…
Content
Nigeria: Protesters Attack Freedom Radio
Thousands of protesters marched on the Kano-based private radio station, Freedom Radio and destroyed its transmitter and other facilities. Four station workers, including security men and duty officers, were injured…
Content
South Africa: Satellite Health Channel Reaches Nearly 300 Clinics
Harnessing satellite technology, a partnership including the national Department of Health, has been providing health care "info-tainment" to televisions in nearly 300 clinics and hospitals countrywide. Since pilot operations in…
Content
Zimbabwe: New TV Station
The television monopoly of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings could soon end following an announcement by a new pan-African satellite television station GTV that it intends to set up shop in…
Content
Botswana: Mini-Choice Satellite Tv
South African based Multichoice DSTV is about to push up the prices for the services they offer in Botswana. The compact bouquet is going up by US$1.67 to US$30.06 beginning…
Distribution
South Africa: Viewers Lose as SABC Stumped By Super Eights Coverage
It’s fair to say that the SABC gambled (sensitive word in cricketing terms) when it came to their screening of World Cup matches and lost. Having shown all the group…
Distribution
Zimbabwe: ZBC Botches World Cup Deal
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation embarrassingly botched a $1.5 billion deal for the screening of the ICC Cricket World Cup in West Indies after failing to pay a paltry figure for…
Technology & Convergence
South Africa: DSTV Guides By Cellphone
DSTV is sending out programming information to subscribers through a "mobizine" -- a technology that combines cellphone technology with magazine-like content. The satellite platform owned by MultiChoice said this week…
Technology & Convergence
Tunisia: Video-Sharing Website Dailymotion Blocked
Omar Mestiri, the editor of the opposition online newspaper "Kalima", is the victim of judicial harassment, Reporters Without Borders said on April 11th of a libel suit that could result…
Technology & Convergence
Namibia: PM Urges Hi-Tech Services for the Region's Masses
Providers of television, Internet and other communications services need to make them more accessible and affordable to lower-income groups and rural communities, Prime Minister Nahas Angula has urged. Speaking at…
Technology & Convergence
Kenya: Local Broadcast Set to Go Digital
The Government has said the broadcasting industry is expected to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting by 2015. This means that television and radio gadgets in the market would be…
Technology & Convergence
Nigeria: Television coming to Mobile Phones
What promises to be a major application in mobile services in a short while is mobile TV. This service will enable mobile phone subscribers watch television programmes on their mobile…
Technology & Convergence
Zimbabwe: Econet Wireless Completes 3G Network Installation
Econet Wireless is now ready to roll out its 3G network following the completion of installation of the equipment, CEO Mr Douglas Mboweni has said. "We are now on the…
Technology & Convergence
Nigeria: Time Machine - A Personal Computer, TV Tool
At times like this when the awareness of Information and Communication Technology and innovations is on the increase, the convergence between Television and Personal Computing (PC) technologies as a tool…
Regulation & Policy
Zimbabwe: Press Freedom Falls Prey to Arrests And Torture
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Zimbabwe has warned journalists of an increasingly hostile working environment after the abduction and subsequent murder of a freelance reporter, and the…
Regulation & Policy
Nigeria: Security Forces Close Radio And TV Stations Three Days Before State Elections
Reporters Without Borders called on April 12th on the federal authorities to permit the reopening of two new, Lagos-based broadcast media, Link FM and GTV, which were abruptly closed by…
Regulation & Policy
Somalia: TV Crew Arrested By Order of Presidential Official; Ministry Bans 'Unauthorised' Conferences, Lectures And Public Events
Reporters Without Borders expressed concern on April 11th about press freedom in Somalia after a presidential spokesman ordered the arrest of a TV crew and the authorities in Puntland, a…
Regulation & Policy
Uganda: Parliament Insists on Re-Opening of NTV, Fails to Secure Deadline
Parliament has reaffirmed its position that Nation Television (NTV) must be re-opened. "A committee investigated this matter. We have made resolutions. Let's restate our position that NTV should be reopened…
Regulation & Policy
South Africa: Dept Clears Pay TV Licensing, Digital Migration Confusion
Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri has never called for the suspension of satellite and cable broadcasting service licences, the department has stated. Spokesperson for the department Albi Modise told BuaNews Thursday…
Regulation & Policy
Somalia: Government Shuts Down Al-Jazeera Bureau in Mogadishu
The Committee to Protect Journalists (New York) wrote on March 26th that the bureau of satellite television Al-Jazeera in the capital Mogadishu was indefinitely shuttered on Thursday following an order…
Regulation & Policy
Nigeria: Court Arraigns DSTV Boss Over Copyright Infringement
Multichoice Nigeria Limited, operators of Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) in Nigeria, and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Collins Khumalo were arraigned in late March before a Federal High Court sitting…
Regulation & Policy
Zambia: Anti-Graft Officers Raid Radio Station, Seize Materials, Intimidate Staff
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Windhoek) wrote on April 13th that on 30 March 2007, officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) searched the office of Radio Mano, a community…
Investment
South Africa: Johncom Asset Shuffle May Open Way to Acquisition
Johncom’s announcement on April 12 that it will unbundle the Caxton shares from its operational assets by listing itself as two separate companies has been welcomed by analysts, even though…
Investment
Zimbabwe: Govt allocates $8.9bn for New Radio Station – Iran to fund refurbishment
The Government has put up Z$8.9 billion for the new Gweru-based shortwave radio station that is scheduled to start broadcasting soon, Information and Publicity Minister Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said yesterday.…
Investment
Nigeria: Commercialization of Govt Owned Media Begins
The federal government has begun the process of privatising its media outfits across the country with the appointment of consultants to evaluate the companies and make recommendations to it. The…
