Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 255 – 25 January 2017
Top Story
Azuri Technologies offers solar 24 inch TV to Kenyan rural households and sees “real opportunities” in the other 12 countries it operates in
25 January 2017
Kenyans in rural areas are increasingly looking to buy solar TVs. Rising expectations mean that they want something similar to a Kenyan living in the city, not a downscaled product with less content and a smaller screen. Azuri Technologies is seeking to meet this need with an alliance with pay TV provider Zuku. Russell Southwood spoke to its CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth about its ambitions. Azuri Technologies’ Bransfield-Garth has seen a major shift in the rural areas of Kenya:”We went to Kenya in 2011 and everybody was buying a little solar light. That was the big thing they wanted. Things have…
Broadcast
‘Chibok Girls’ film premieres in U.S.
25 January 2017
A film dedicated to telling the story of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, “Waiting for Hassana”, will be premiered in the U.S. on Friday. This is contained in a statement by…
Broadcast
'The Wound' Review: A Tough Tale
25 January 2017
Ever more generously represented on the festival circuit, the coming-of-age drama has developed as clearly inscribed a template as any genre in the contemporary filmmaker’s playbook — growing up, after…
Broadcast
Omotoso's latest project chosen for Berlinale Co-Production Market
25 January 2017
Johannesburg-based filmmaker Akin Omotoso, fresh from the success of his latest movie Vaya, will be taking his next project, Waiting for an Angel, to the 14th edition of the Berlinale…
Broadcast
AMC Launches New Blockbuster Series, Asunder on StarTimes
25 January 2017
StarTimes viewers are set for more exciting moments and delightful viewing on television as popular entertainment channel, African Movie Channel (AMC) launches its first TV series, ASUNDER, a 65-episode analytical…
Broadcast
Fifth season of MTV Africa's Shuga sex drama filmed in South Africa will be set in a fictionalised Soweto called Zenzele; adds Nigerian artists.
25 January 2017
The 5th season of MTV Africa's Shuga, filmed for the first time in South Africa, is bringing a South African flavour to the mix but is toning down its overt…
Broadcast
Watch the trailer for ‘The Lost Café’ – A film by Kenneth Gyang
25 January 2017
Peridot and Cinema Kpatakpata are proud to announce the release of the trailer for their beautiful poignant film, The Lost Cafe. The film is an uplifting story about a girl's…
Broadcast
‘The Wedding Party’ Becomes Highest Grossing Nollywood Movie Since Groundbreaking ‘Living in Bondage’ in 1992
25 January 2017
Kemi Adetiba’s romantic comedy, “The Wedding Party” just released last month – December, 2016 – has become the highest grossing movie in the history of Nollywood since the groundbreaking “Living…
Broadcast
The Suit makes waves in Canada
25 January 2017
Multiple award-winning South African short film “The Suit” has been selected for two ground-breaking Canadian film festivals as it continues to impress audiences and critics across the globe. Written and…
Content
StarTimes, HS Media Group Formalise Partnership on Bundesliga
25 January 2017
A milestone has been recorded in the Nigeria sports media and entertainment industry with the formalization of the long awaited partnership between StarTimes and HS Media Group for the live…
Content
SABC's self-censorship continues as SABC News cuts the live feed and screens go black when EFF leader Julius Malema mentions 'no brains' Hlaudi Motsoeneng
25 January 2017
South African and African viewers on Monday saw how the SABC's alleged self-censorship continues in 2017 when the SABC's SABC News division abruptly cut the live feed and screens went…
Content
DISCOP Johanneburg announces Germany as guest country for 2017 edition
25 January 2017
Picture below : Deutsche Welle presentation over Discop Africa 2016 in Johannesburg. DISCOP Johannesburg - Africa’s leading entertainment content market and co-production forum – will announce a significant partnership…
Content
Go gaming with Cartoon Network
25 January 2017
Cartoon Network, one of South Africa s kid-focused channels, will be introducing multiple digital offerings this month, promising to have kids excited and fully engaged. Boys and girls across South…
Content
New African Pavilion at MIPTV 2017
25 January 2017
Reed MIDEM is pleased to announce the creation of a pan-African pavilion to serve as a spotlight destination at MIPTV for distributing into and acquiring content from Africa. The 54th…
Content
Ericsson inks VOD deal with 20th Century Fox
25 January 2017
Global information technology company, Ericsson, has entered into an exclusive, multi-year feature film deal with leading international content distributor, 20th Century Fox Television Distribution, for its subscription video on demand…
Content
Viceland launches in Africa with Kwesé TV
25 January 2017
Vice Media’s Viceland channel is launching in Africa in an exclusive tie-up with new pay TV entrant Kwesé TV, owned by Econet Media. Under the deal, Kwesé TV will add…
Distribution
Turkey’s first English language international news platform - TRT WORLD - expands its satellite distribution
25 January 2017
TRT announced today that it has signed a new agreement to launch its international news platform TRT World on 10 additional satellites and expand its reach and viewership. This multi-year…
Distribution
CCTV launches HD broadcasts of three flagship channels from Eutelsat HOTBIRD video neighbourhood
25 January 2017
China Central Television (CCTV), has signed a long-term distribution contract with Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) to broadcast three of its flagship channels in High Definition across Europe, the…
Investment
South Africa tells the world it is open for business through global campaign on CNN
25 January 2017
Brand South Africa, the organisation that positions South Africa as a competitive and inspiring Nation Brand - is connecting with CNN s business audiences through a new multi-platform advertising and…
Technology & Convergence
Kwesé TV commissions Quadrille to supply catch-up
25 January 2017
Independent software and service provider Quadrille is partnering with Africa’s Econet Media to provide push catch-up software for Econet Media’s Kwesé TV portfolio. Econet Media has been set up to…
Technology & Convergence
Accra sports stadium comes alive with outdoor cinema experience
25 January 2017
The Accra Sports Stadium is set to come alive as it presents a new twist to outdoor entertainment film showing on the biggest screen ever in Ghana. An Africa /America…
Technology & Convergence
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) has arrived in South Africa
25 January 2017
Digital Migration is a mandatory process for every country around the world under the authority of the International Telecommunications Union. What this means for South Africa is that every television…
Technology & Convergence
MTN Customers to Enjoy African Movies on Smart Phones
25 January 2017
Telecommunication giant MTN has partnered with Africa Movies on the Go AMGO to give African Movie lovers the opportunity to watch their favourites movies on the go. Africa Movie on…
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Opportunities
25 January 2017
Call for submissions to the 70th Cannes International Film Festival The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will embark on a trip to the 70th Cannes International Film Festival being…
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Events
25 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…
