Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 270 – 24 August 2017
Top Story
New data shows which African countries’ Internet speeds are likely to sustain streaming video services
24 August 2017
Streaming services in Africa have been held back by the triple whammy of high data prices, unreliable connections and slow speeds. A new World Broadband Speed League provide new data to fuel the debate about which countries in Africa have the speed to make streaming services a reality. Russell Southwood picks over the data to get some answers. The World Broadband Speed League is a ranking put together from research carried out by New America’s Open Technology Institute, Google Open Source Research and Princeton University’s Planet Lab. Across a large number of countries globally, it measured overall speeds and the…
Broadcast
AFRIFF and the Ford Foundation are on a mission to empower the next generation of female Nigerian filmmakers
24 August 2017
Yesterday, the latest beneficiaries of the AFRIFF/Ford Foundation scholarship in filmmaking, as well as their benefactors gathered on the 9th floor of the CBC Towers in Lekki to share their…
Broadcast
Philip K Dick’s work is coming to TV
24 August 2017
If you’re a hard science fiction fan, it’s likely the works of one Philip K Dick need no introduction. If you’re reaction to that headline is “Philip K who?” here’s…
Broadcast
ZIFF embraces African films
24 August 2017
ORGANISERS of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival last week said this year’s edition of the fiesta — to be held in collaboration with the International Image Film Festival (IIFF) —…
Broadcast
Tulips and Chimneys prove they’re worth their salt with new Cerebos animation
24 August 2017
Snow, Tulips and Chimneys’ new animation, is the first television commercial in over 20 years for Cerebos, South Africa’s favourite salt brand. They jumped at the opportunity to add another…
Broadcast
GOTv adds three new free-to-air channels
24 August 2017
GOTV has launched additional three Free-to-Air, FTA, channels on its platform. Speaking on the launch of the channels, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, said: “We are very excited about…
Broadcast
Documentary Filmmaker Yaba Badoe knows how to #MAKEITHAPPEN
24 August 2017
For Women’s Month, we are profiling inspiring women who are making a difference in Africa. We’re bringing you innovators, creatives, entrepreneurs and influencers whose stories of success will inspire you…
Broadcast
Black Star Film Festival opens in Accra
24 August 2017
The second edition of the Black Star International Film Festival has opened in Accra with a call on Ghanaian filmmakers to tell the Ghanaian story. Speaking at the opening ceremony…
Broadcast
amaXhosa king seeks to halt gay initiation film
24 August 2017
Cape Town – amaXhosa king Zwelonke Sigcawu is seeking to halt the distribution of a film depicting a homosexual relationship during the traditional amaXhosa manhood initiations, saying there are limits…
Broadcast
Ngema’s Asinamali in the major cinemas in March 2018
24 August 2017
Asinamali, the musical directed by Mbongeni Ngema, will be released on the commercial circuit in South Africa in March 2018. However it will go on limited release on 15 September…
Content
Jamia Mosque launches Kenya's first Islamic TV channel
24 August 2017
The Jamia Mosque in Nairobi has launched Kenya's first full-spectrum Islamic television channel. Horizon TV, which will broadcast on digital platforms, was officially unveiled at a colourful ceremony at the…
Content
BBC launches Pidgin digital service for its West African audiences
24 August 2017
BBC World Service starts a new language service for its digital platforms in English- based Pidgin for West and Central Africa. Pidgin is one of the most widely spoken languages…
Content
Akin Omotoso's film to be submitted for 2018 Oscar consideration
24 August 2017
South Africa has submitted films for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film since 1989. For 2018, Akin Omotoso's critically acclaimed movie "Vaya" has been selected by Iran as…
Content
Highest-earning Nigerian film showcases SA's gems
24 August 2017
The highest-earning Nigerian film, '10 Days in Sun City' not only showcases our country's diverse leisure tourism attractions, but also some of our top talent. The hit Nollywood action comedy…
Content
Tuluntulu launches economic empowerment TV channel
24 August 2017
Tuluntulu, an African mobile content platform, has teamed up with South Africa s Rhodes Business School and Nedbank to launch a new 24/7 economic empowerment TV channel on the Tuluntulu…
Content
Quirky new comedy, Liewe Keersfeesvader, to have world premiere at KYKNET Silwerskermfees next week
24 August 2017
The quirky new Afrikaans comedy feature Liewe Kersfeesvader (“Dear Father Christmas”) will have its world premiere at the kykNET Silwerskermfees in Cape Town next Friday, 25 August. Written and directed…
Content
“The Number” screens at the Toronto International Film Festival A KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission funded project
24 August 2017
17 August 2017; Directed by Khalo Matabane and produced by Carolyn Carew, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission (KZNFC) funded project, “The Number”, has been selected to screen at the prestigious Toronto…
Content
In brief
24 August 2017
Subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) provider Iflix has gone live in Kenya following completion of USD 133 million funding for expansion to emerging markets, reports Business Daily. The announcement of the fundraising…
Distribution
Africa's Best Documentaries: Now Available to Stream
24 August 2017
Fans of African cinema now have TWO ways to watch some of the best documentaries from across the continent and beyond. Africa's well known and loved documentary film broadcast stream,…
Distribution
Trace TV to launch TV channel; Trace Kitoko in DR Congo
24 August 2017
Olivier Laouchez, co-founder and general manager of Trace TV, announced during a conference the launch of two major channels in Kinshasa. These channels will focus only on music and Congolese…
Distribution
New South African movie showtime aggregation website launches
24 August 2017
Forefront Media Group launches a comprehensive movie site that allows users to search by cinema, title, and location, cutting unwanted visits to multiple cinema sites. Where typically South African movie-goers…
Distribution
In brief
24 August 2017
Canal+ Advertising, a subsidiary of Canal+ International, announced that the audience share captured by Canal+ channels in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa has increased by 1 percentage point since 2016 to reach…
Regulation & Policy
MultiChoice South Africa renames Extra plan Compact Plus
24 August 2017
MultiChoice South Africa announced it will rename its DStv Extra bouquet of satellite TV channels. Effective immediately, the bouquet will be known as DStv Compact Plus. The plan costs ZAR…
Investment
Movie ticket price hikes in South Africa
24 August 2017
Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro have increased movie ticket prices, with 3D movies at top-tier Ster-Kinekor cinemas going from R91 to R97. Ster-Kinekor did not increase ticket prices at several of…
Investment
Dr Dish inks deal with Econet Media to launch Kwese TV in Zimbabwe
24 August 2017
Dr Dish (Private) Limited wishes to announce that it has struck a ground breaking Content Distribution deal with Econet Media Limited, a Pan African Broadcasting Network, to bring Kwese TV…
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People
24 August 2017
ICASA mutually separates with CEO The council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has notified all stakeholders and the media of its mutual separation with the chief…
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Opportunities
24 August 2017
The 2017 Film Africa festival partners with Okiki Film Africa is a Royal African Society annual festival celebrating the best African cinema from across the continent and diaspora. Now in…
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Events
24 August 2017
This event section provides a selection of major events in the audiovisual sector related to Africa and black culture: conferences, seminars, film festivals, trade shows. To advertise your event on this…
