Issue no 21 25 January 2008
Top Story
Mobile TV goes off in search of audiences as roll-outs increase across the continent
The recent formal launch of mobile TV in Nigeria and the agreement signed between Algerian mobile operator Nedjma and the state broadcaster ENTV are just the latest in a growing number of implementations across the continent. Although described as television, mobile TV is a new and unproven medium but serious players – both in the broadcast and mobile sectors – are betting significant sums of money on the outcome. Russell Southwood looks at developments so far and whether mobile TV will be a winner with audiences in Africa. The number of mobile TV implementations is increasing and in many cases…
Content
NBC launches free-to-air satellite TV news channel
US broadcast giant NBC and London-based Great Media have launched the MSNBC news channel as a free-to-air offering along with 35 other channels across Africa, relying on advertising to finance…
Content
Zimbabwe: Private finance from Chiyangwa Secures La Liga Deal for ZTV
Private finance has rescued the programming plans of Zimbabwean state broadcaster, ZTV with a local businessman putting up the money to secure the rights for Spain’s La Liga and talking…
Content
Uganda: Boxer Asiku Fight for GVT Debut
Commonwealth featherweight champion Jackson "Action" Asiku will become the first Ugandan boxer to debut on pay television GTV on February 16, when he defends his title against Matt Powell of…
Content
Nigeria: NTA, Bon to Show Nations Cup Live, secure rights for 1.2 million euros
Nigerians have the opportunity to watch all the 32 matches of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations as the Broadcasting organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) have…
Content
Uganda: Multichoice, MTN Launch Cup Promos
Digital satellite television providers Multichoice Uganda and telecommunication company MTN have launched promotions ahead of this year's Nations Cup that gets underway on January 20. Dstv launched 'Win a trip…
Content
Content In Brief
In Gabon, private pay-for TV channels who had purchased rights to the African Cup of Nations assured the Minister of Communications, Post, Telecommunications and New Technologies Laure Olga Gondjout that…
Content
Gambia: Journalists Launch Online Radio
A group of Gambian journalists and pro-media freedom bodies in West Africa on Saturday launched Radio Alternative Voice (Radio AVG), an online radio which can be accessed on www.radioavg.com. Organisers…
Content
Nigeria: AIT, Raypower Get National Network Licence
Sixteen years after the deregulation of the broadcast industry in the country, the Yar'Adua administration has removed the final vestiges of monopoly by granting a national network license to Daar…
Content
South Africa: End-of-Year Slowdown Comes Early for Country Radio
It was a quiet end of the year for South African radio, with no station growth over the previous Radio Audience Measurement Survey (RAMS(r)), and declining time spent listening. The…
Content
Angola: State-owned TPA Prepares Staff Training Project Launch
The Angolan Public Television (TPA) will launch this week in Luanda a staff training project, with the aim of improving the quality of its service, ahead of the introduction of…
Content
Broadcast In Brief
Gambia authorities on January 15, 2008 indefinitely suspended the broadcast of Radio France International (RFI) in Banjul for airing what they referred to as an "erroneous news story". A release…
Distribution
East Africa: GTV to Up Roll Out With US$60 Million Kitty
Gateway Broadcast Services, a subsidiary of Gateway Telecommunications, has raised US$60 million to accelerate the roll out of its pan African pay-TV service, GTV. GTV is Africa's first widely accessible…
Distribution
Nigeria: Multichoice Promises 'Greatest'
MultiChoice Nigeria, has promised to give all its viewers the greatest coverage of the 26th edition of the African Nations Cup finals which gets underway in Ghana Sunday. Managing Director…
Distribution
Distribution In Brief
New software capable of stripping ads out of TV programmes seems to be yet another nail in the coffin of the die-hard 30-second TV commercial. A US company, VideoReDO, has…
Technology & Convergence
Kenya: Plentiful broadcast music spells the end of the road for CDs
When CDS of local music were introduced slightly over a decade ago, they sold at Ksh800 ($12.5) while those for imported music ranged from Ksh1200-Ksh1500 ($18.75-$23.5). Not anymore though, as…
Technology & Convergence
Universal McCann’s Suliman predicts Year for Online advertisement in Africa
The challenge this year for advertisers is to really connect with their consumers in credible spaces online and learn how to become part of their personal space with an authentic…
Regulation & Policy
Kenya: Ban On Live Coverage is Still in Force
The ban on live media coverage will remain in force until calm is restored, the Government has said. This ban meant that the opening of Parliament was not be transmitted…
Regulation & Policy
Somalia: BBC Stringer Arrested On Orders of Provincial Governor
Reporters Without Borders has protested at the arrest and detention on 15 January 2008 of a stringer with the BBC Somali service, Ayanle Hussein Abdi. The worldwide press freedom organisation…
Regulation & Policy
Regulation & Policy In Brief
Police in the Chad capital N'djamena closed radio station FM Liberté and arrested its Director, claiming it had defamed various people after broadcasting a press communiqué for a local consumer…
Investment
Madagascar: Government puts up US$3.4 million for Cup of Nations rights for state TV
Seva Mboiny Simon, D-G of l'Office de la radio et de la télévison nationale malgache, and Volatahiana Ranaivomanana, director of the state TV channel confirmed that the Government had agreed…
Investment
'Moroccan Hollywood' invests 27.3 million euros to step up production capacity by 2016
The southern Moroccan city of Ouarzazate intends to multiply its film-making revenue by seven and become the Hollywood of the Mediterranean. "Morocco will disburse 43 million dirhams (27.3 million euros)…
Investment
Investment In Brief
A new free-to-air lifestyle and culture channel, Southern Africa Direct, has been launched on Sky and it claims to be the first “destination TV” channel. The channel is an Anglo-African…
