Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 279 12 January 2018
Top Story
Providing African content for in-flight entertainment – John Parr, Global Eagle on what content works and why it does
12 January 2018
London This week Russell Southwood talks to John Parr, Content Programme Manager - Africa, Global Eagle about the kind of content airlines are looking for and the criteria they are expecting from films they take. Global Eagle is the biggest provider of in-flight content and systems and former producer John Parr is responsible for acquiring content for them in Africa. Global Eagle has deals with a good part of the airlines flying to and from the continent and acquires both English and French films. "Passengers flying to and from Africa want African content. As there is a diverse audience, we…
Broadcast
Two African films edges closer to Oscar nomination
12 January 2018
Africa's diverse movie industry has received a nod from Oscar awards after two movies from the continent have moved a step closer to qualification into best foreign language film slot.…
Broadcast
Hard-hitting local film that goes back to the future
12 January 2018
One of the least travelled artistic routes until recently has been life behind bars for female inmates. Thembi, a locally-produced film, aims to delve into this life and also open…
Broadcast
Showbizbee acquired rights to film the story of Brenda Fassie
12 January 2018
Fassie was a South African Afropop singer, affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she was sometimes described as the Queen of African Pop' or simply as The Black Madonna. London…
Broadcast
'Hello, Rain,' Is an Afrofuturistic Short Film Based on Nnedi Okorafor's 'Hello, Moto'
12 January 2018
Nnedi Okorafor is on a roll, and we're so glad that we get to tag along for the ride. After a tremendous 2017, in which the celebrated writer announced an…
Content
kykNET moves Kwêla again, adds doc series about SA’s TV history
12 January 2018
Cape Town – kykNET (DStv 144) is moving its weekly Afrikaans magazine show Kwêla to a new timeslot again from this weekend – now to Sundays at 18:00 – and…
Content
Kendrick Lamar heads to films with ‘Black Panther’
12 January 2018
High-flying rapper Kendrick Lamar is making his first soundtrack as he released a song Thursday with singer SZA for the upcoming superhero film Black Panther. Lamar, whose socially conscious and…
Content
South Africa - e.tv adds new local crime investigation series
12 January 2018
Cape Town – e.tv is adding Case Closed: Justice Served from Monday 15 January at 22:00 as a new local crime and investigation series of 13 episodes exploring real-life South…
Content
Afri Health TV added to satellite channels in Ethiopia
12 January 2018
Afri Health TV which was established to air medical TV show productions is now starting a 24-hour transmission. The production will start in Amharic, but the company has planned to…
Content
Sahara Group partners with young filmmaker to empower African girl children
12 January 2018
With statistics indicating that 15 million girls of primary school age – half of them in sub-Saharan Africa – will never enter a classroom, leading African energy conglomerate, Sahara Group,…
Content
TiVo introduces ‘Next-Gen’ platform for Pay TV providers to enhance their game
12 January 2018
TiVo launched a new “Next-Gen Platform,” allowing pay TV operators to better keep up with the changes in how consumers prefer to watch television today. The platform enables operators to…
Content
Trailer & US release set for animated film 'Bilal', starring Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jacob Latimore and China Anne McClain
12 January 2018
Actors Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jacob Latimore, Ian McShane and China Anne McClain all voice starring characters in Abu Dhabi-based Barajoun Entertainment's first feature film production, Bilal: A New Breed of Hero.…
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa to add 17.4 million pay-TV subscribers by 2023
12 January 2018
The number of pay-TV subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa will increase by 74 percent between 2017 and 2023 to reach 40.89 million, according to a report by Digital TV Research. The…
Distribution
KweliTV is Netflix for black people, by black people, starring black people
12 January 2018
Kweli.tv aims to be the go-to streaming media platform for black filmmakers all over the world to share their content and make money from its distribution. KweliTV handpicks all of…
Distribution
Iflix Signs Deal with NBC Universal for Africa
12 January 2018
Malaysian subscription streaming video service iflix, which is focused on emerging markets, has signed a deal with U.S. studio NBCUniversal to bring premium content to sub-Saharan African users. The Netflix…
Technology & Convergence
70 per cent of digital migration completed in Burkina Faso
12 January 2018
On December 28, 70 per cent of the population of Burkina Faso switched to digital terrestrial television (DTT). The infrastructure installed for the project was commissioned by Sherif Sy, the…
Technology & Convergence
New deadline set for DTT in South Africa
12 January 2018
June 2019 is the new deadline set by the African National Congress (ANC)for SA’s switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT) completion. This was announced by Jackson Mthembu, ANC…
Regulation & Policy
Ghana To Extend TV License To Content Viewed On Mobile Devices
12 January 2018
Consumers of media content on mobile devices are to be liable for TV license fees in Ghana - this is according to Dr Akuffo Annor-Ntow, the Director General of Ghana…
Regulation & Policy
ICASA opened application for Digital Pay TV channels in SA
12 January 2018
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has opened applications for broadcasters to apply for multiplexer 3 digital terrestrial television spectrum. ICASA issued an invitation to apply for this…
Investment
Movie pass service potentially on its way to South Africa
12 January 2018
Sinemia, an online-movie ticketing business started by a Turkish developer, is in talks with US-based venture-capital investors to fund an expansion in the world’s largest cinema market. The company is…
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Opportunities
12 January 2018
You are a young African filmmaker looking for an international training platform to develop your new documentary film project? DOK.fest München together with the Cultural Department of the City of…
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Events
12 January 2018
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…
