Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 254 - 12 January 2017
Top Story
Satellite TV winning increasing market share in Ghana and looks set to do the same in Nigeria
12 January 2017
Satellite operator SES has set up TV satellite platforms in West Africa. As part of that work, it carried out two national surveys, one in Ghana and the other in Nigeria. This week Russell Southwood looks at what these surveys can tell us about the changes in two of West Africa’s biggest broadcast markets. Both surveys were carried out by IPSOS and have results from the end of 2015 so are just over 12 months old. They are important because they provide the first publicly available national snapshot of any accuracy for both countries. One key issue the findings for…
Broadcast
e.tv signs deal with Sony Pictures Television
12 January 2017
e.tv has announced a multi-year deal with one of the world’s leading content providers, Sony Pictures Television. This deal will see e.tv constantly broadcasting fresh, high quality international content for…
Broadcast
Al Jazeera highlight: Rebel Education
12 January 2017
In Kenya and Uganda, up to 80% of those in prison have never seen a lawyer, estimates African Prison Project (APP) founder Alexander McLean. A new Al Jazeera documentary looks…
Broadcast
Fox Sports Signs Partnership With West Africa
12 January 2017
One of the biggest sports news announcements to take place in Africa this year, was the recent announcement by Fox Sports who signed a new multi-year partnership with the West…
Broadcast
Highest grossing Nollywood movies of 2016
12 January 2017
Few days from now, we will bid farewell to 2016 and usher in 2017,with great expectations, yet the events that helped to shape the outgoing year will not be forgotten…
Broadcast
Announcement of the WGSA MUSE Awards 2016 Finalists
12 January 2017
The Writers’ Guild of South Africa (WGSA) takes great pleasure in announcing the finalists for the WGSA Muse Awards 2016, set for 11 February 2017. At the event, performance writers…
Broadcast
The Wound to premiere at Sundance Film Festival
12 January 2017
Independent production house Urucu Media, the company behind the multiple award-winning drama Necktie Youth, could not have asked for a stronger start for their latest film. The Wound will make…
Content
DStv Zimbabwe is offering all its connected customers a free subscription in 2017
12 January 2017
If you are hoping for another Christmas gift here’s another bit of holiday cheer – If you are a DStv subscriber the pay TV service is offering you a free…
Content
New television channels in Ethiopia may threaten state control
12 January 2017
STROLL through Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, and everywhere you will see satellite dishes, sprouting mushroom-like from roofs, gardens and balconies. “People have roofs to repair, but they are buying satellite…
Content
A Taste of South Africa with Matt Tebbutt Filming starts on new 10-part TV series
12 January 2017
Filming has started on a new 10-part television food series - A Taste of South Africa - with well-known British chef Matt Tebbutt as the show's presenter. Produced by South…
Content
StarTimes Launches DTT Platform In Daura
12 January 2017
Foremost digital television network company, StarTimes, has launched its Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform in Daura, Katsina State. The unveiling of DTT decoder was remarkable to the people of the…
Content
BBC News Heads to Uganda for a Full Week of Live Broadcasts
12 January 2017
BBC Focus On Africa television and radio, along with the BBC Swahili TV program, “Dira ya Dunia,” will hit the road together in January to broadcast live from Uganda for…
Content
In brief
12 January 2017
The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Is'haq Modibbo Kawu, has said his agency will create a Digital Access Fund where N1000 annual TV licence fee paid…
Distribution
GatesAir, Pinnacle support DTV service launch in Nigeria
12 January 2017
GatesAir, along with Nigerian channel partner Pinnacle Communications (Pinnacle), has launched a turnkey DVB-T2 transmission system serving Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The system supports the switch-on of a new…
Distribution
Amazon Prime Video extends reach into South Africa
12 January 2017
In a recently announced move, the video-on-demand (VOD) platform has been rolled out at no additional cost to Amazon Prime members in Belgium, Canada, France, India, Italy and Spain. For…
Investment
Angola seeks financing from China and private sector for digital migration
12 January 2017
The government of Angola plans to include the analogue to digital television migration programme in China’s credit line and involve private companies in the process to reduce government spending, according…
Investment
The “Berlinale Africa Hub” – a new EFM platform for innovation and technology in the African film industry
12 January 2017
Thanks to the support of the German Federal Foreign Office, for the first time the 2017 Berlinale will provide a platform for innovative projects and ideas from the African film…
Investment
Crowdfunding campaign to complete SA musical film
12 January 2017
An Indiegogo campaign is running to raise finishing funds for She is King, a South African musical film. There are just 21 days left to contribute, get involved and be…
Investment
MTG offloads loss-making African TV operations
12 January 2017
Sweden-based media group MTG has completed the sale of its loss-making free TV channels and production business in Ghana and Nigeria, with a further deal in Tanzania expected to close…
Technology & Convergence
Voxafrica empowered by TNP’s Playbox Technology Neo
12 January 2017
Voxafrica, the independent pan-African television channel based in London, has newly acquired a multichannel PlayBox Technology AirBox Neo television playout system. It has been empowered by TNP Broadcast, the UK-based…
Technology & Convergence
SES and CANAL+ in Long-Term Capacity Agreement
12 January 2017
Multi-year and multi-transponder contract demonstrates CANAL+ Group‘s long-term commitment to satellite and SES SES S.A. (Euronext Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) and CANAL+ Group have confirmed today the signature of a long-term, multi-year,…
More
Opportunities
12 January 2017
Deadline looms for the Africa Movie Academy Awards 2017 Time is running out to enter into the 2017 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The AMA Awards, are presented annually to…
More
Opportunities
12 January 2017
M-Net MiM Academy 2017 Open for Entries M-Net will run its Magic in Motion Academy programme for 2017 and host a four-day Magic in Motion Career Expo for aspiring young…
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Opportunities
12 January 2017
An African Cinematic Summit Filmmaker Azza Elhusseiny, director of Luxor African Film Festival, has announced the results of the long narrative script competition that will be supported by Etisal Fund…
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People
12 January 2017
Endemol Shine Africa appoints Helga Palmer as managing director Endemol Shine Africa, creators of some of popular TV productions including Big Brother, Isidingo, Survivor and Clash of the Choirs, announced…
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Events
12 January 2017
Introduction: Quoting notable nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, "film festivals help to increase the mileage and patronage of our local movies in the global village and they allow movie aficionados to converge…
