Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 328 22 November 2019
Top Story
Exclusive interview: Angola’s Isabel dos Santos on Zap going international and investing in local content
22 November 2019
Love or hate her, Isabel dos Santos has carved herself out a significant business empire that stretches across telecoms, broadcast, retail and banking. Russell Southwood spoke to her at AfricaCom about what she’s planning and how she sees the future. Q: How did you come to launch Unitel? A: I was the founder of the second mobile provider Unitel and (pay TV provider) Zap. Unitel started with a very small network. The differences between us (and Movicel) were the technology we chose, the go to market strategy, the customer experience and the relevance to the customer in terms of the…
Broadcast
Thomson Broadcast, Supported by Viaccess-Orca, to Secure Malian Public Broadcaster DTT Deployment
22 November 2019
Viaccess-Orca (VO), an Orange Group company and a global leader providing OTT and TV platforms, content protection, and advanced data solutions, announced today that the Malian Transmission and Broadcasting Corporation…
Broadcast
Trace Acquires And Rebrands Kenya’s Qwetu Radio
22 November 2019
Kenya’s music radio station Qwetu Radio has been bought out by the French multimedia entertainment corporation, Trace, and will now assume the new name - Trace Radio. The company also…
Broadcast
TAC Studios brings new series and development projects to DISCOP
22 November 2019
TAC Studios brings new finished series and fresh development projects amongst its content slate for DISCOP Johannesburg. JOHANNESBURG, November 18, 2019 - TAC Studios, the production arm of US-based The…
Broadcast
SuperSport confirms Caf’s blackout after termination of Lagardère contract
22 November 2019
The broadcasting giants are affected by the decision of the African Football Federation and will not present any continental match until further notice. SuperSport announced that the content of the…
Content - Film
China and Nollywood have signed up for their first major film collaboration
22 November 2019
Chinese entertainment group, Huahua Media, is joining forces with Nigerian filmmakers to produce the first major China-Nigeria film. Huahua signed a deal to co-produce 30 days in China, with Nigerian…
Content - Film
The Oscars have Disqualified 'Joy', a Film about Nigerian Sex Workers, Submitted for Best International Feature Film
22 November 2019
Like Genevieve Nnaji's 'Lionheart', the film has reportedly been disqualified by the Academy because of too much English dialogue. It seems films from Nigeria or films about Nigerians can't seem…
Content - Film
Stroop wins prestigious SAB Environmental Media Award
22 November 2019
The South African Breweries (SAB) along with its judging panel announced the winners of the annual SAB Environmental Media of the Year awards at its headquarters in Johannesburg on 12…
Content - Film
Award-winning film 'Atlantics' offers haunting take on life in Senegal
22 November 2019
DAKAR - To capture the harsh reality of life in Senegal, film director Mati Diop chose young people she met at building sites, bars and in Dakar’s poorer suburbs as…
Content - Film
Mati Diop’s Ocean of Longing The French-Senegalese filmmaker’s Cannes sensation Atlantics is a migrant-ghost story for our time.
22 November 2019
Between Senegal and the Canary Islands stretch almost 1,000 miles of ocean. Cruise ships cut through the waves like knives. They make the journey in 11 days, and their passengers,…
Content - Film
'The Burial of Kojo' Is Ghana's First Golden Globe Entry
22 November 2019
Blitz the Ambassador's debut film is being considered for the Best Foreign Language Film nomination at the 2020 Golden Globes. Blitz Bazawuke, also known as Blitz the Ambassador's critically-acclaimed directorial…
Content - Film
ARIFF Is Building An Audience For African Films
22 November 2019
The last few years have seen an unparalleled emergence of the African voice and influence, both within the continent as well as on a global scale. Auteur film voices like…
Content - Film
Everything you need to know about the third annual Joburg Film Festival
22 November 2019
Cape Town – The third annual Joburg Festival will kick off its six-day celebration from 19 - 24 November. The South African horror film, 8, will premiere at the festival…
Content - Film
Marrakech film festival unveils 2019 line-up
22 November 2019
The 18th Marrakech International Film Festival (Nov 29-Dec 7) has revealed its 2019 line-up. The competition line-up features 14 films from first or second-time directors. Five of the films competing…
Content - Film
In brief
22 November 2019
A group of communications students from Villanova University received a gold medal for their documentary at this year’s Student Academy Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills. Princess Garrett and 20 other…
Content - Television
GRB Studios and M-Net signed deal in Africa
22 November 2019
GRB Studios has signed many contracts in Africa, including the last season of Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter on the South African pay-TV channel M-Net. M-Net has also acquired…
Content - Television
DStv Adds Euronews, CBS Justice And CuriosityStream Channels
22 November 2019
MultiChoice has revealed that it is adding two more TV channels to DStv including CuriosityStream, CBS Justice and is also bringing back Euronews. As it is a crime channel, CBS…
Content - Television
3 new channels coming to DStv
22 November 2019
Cape Town – Multichoice is adding three new channels to the DStv platform. The company announced on Wednesday that CuriosityStream, CBS Justice and Euronews will be available from 21 November.…
Content - Television
Netflix reveals a first look at the cast of the highly anticipated Queen Sono
22 November 2019
Today, Netflix released first look images of the highly anticipated 6 part series - Africa’s first script-to-screen Original series, Queen Sono. The action-packed series follows Queen Sono (Pearl Thusi), a…
Content - Television
MultiChoice boss calls for massive stimulus package for South Africa's film and TV industry as part of 'a national agenda' needed to elevate the local content production biz.
22 November 2019
The general entertainment boss of Africa's biggest pay-TV service is calling for a massive stimulus package to be made available for South Africa's TV and film industry to help support…
Content - Television
Marsha Thomason set to star in UK-South African thriller ‘Stolen’ (exclusive)
22 November 2019
The UK’s Marsha Thomason has signed to star in Gary Young’s action thriller Stolen which is set to start shooting in the UK and South Africa in January 2020. Thomason,…
Content - Television
Fight Sports obtains broadcast rights in Africa for Joshua and Ruiz’s return match
22 November 2019
Combat Spots broadcaster, Fight Sports, got the exclusive rights in Africa on the return leg Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz. The fight, for the WBA, WBO and IBF World Heavyweight…
Content - Television
The hilarious comedy series from Cote d’Ivoire has finally landed!
22 November 2019
Let’s laugh at our faults and the flaws of our society, such is the motto of these humorous shortcoms. Through a gallery of lively and colourful characters facing everyday situations.Feel…
Content - Television
MultiChoice announced four new channels this November
22 November 2019
MultiChoice Group launched four new channels, namely the Da Vinci Children’s Educational Channel, which will be offering informative and fun learning on the DStv Family package as well as CuriosityStream,…
Distribution
BBC eyes expansion in Africa, India to fight digital rivals - report
22 November 2019
The BBC is looking to expand its reach across Africa and India as it looks to fight back against competition from digital streaming rivals such as Netflix, reports The Sunday…
Distribution
SPI/FilmBox Inks Channel Distribution Deals with Multiple Players in the African Region
22 November 2019
SPI/FilmBox announces new channel and content distribution deals with Azam TV, MTN Group, and habeshaview to deliver eight of SPI/FilmBox’s most sought after channels to viewers across Africa SPI/FilmBox continues…
Distribution
Charles Novia gets his own first TV channel
22 November 2019
A filmmaker and critic, Charles Novia completed the launching of his first television channel, Teen Africa TV. Charles Novia, a popular film critic and filmmaker, became the first Nigerian to…
Regulation & Policy
South Africa: Get ready for the Films and Publications Amendment Act
22 November 2019
On 2 October 2019, the President ratified the controversial Films and Publications Amendment Act, which has been described in the media as the “internet censorship bill”. Although the Act is…
Regulation & Policy
South African copyright proposals anger Hollywood
22 November 2019
The US film and music industry is putting pressure on the South African and US governments to axe the African country’s proposed copyright. The copyright amendment bill has generated controversy…
Investment
MultiChoice Looks Forward To Profit Surge -Reports
22 November 2019
MultiChoice released a trading statement last week that states that it expects trading profit to reach over $335,000 m for the six months that ended in September 2019, up approximately…
Investment
South Africa: Thebe Acquires Controlling Stake In VOD Provider Discover Digital
22 November 2019
The black empowerment investment firm Thebe Investment has acquired a 51% controlling stake in Discover Digital South Africa and also 50.1% in Discover Digital International. The deal, which was recently…
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People
22 November 2019
Spacecom CEO Pollack to step down Spacecom CEO and president David Pollack has announced his resignation from the Israeli satellite operator. In a statement made to the Tel Aviv Stock…
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Opportunities
22 November 2019
AMVCA 2020: Organisers call for film submissions ahead of 7th edition Africa Magic, in association with MultiChoice Nigeria, has called for film submission ahead of the 7th edition of the…
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Events
22 November 2019
The Global Migration Film Festival November 28 – December 18, 2019 The Global Migration Film Festival showcases films that capture the promise and challenges of migration. The UN Migration Agency…
