Issue no 51 2 April 2009
Top Story
Ghana’s VTT Satellite’s Make Me A Success completes production and looks for broadcast partners
Africa has taken global programme formats and morphed them into new shapes. One of the latest formats to arrive is VTT Satellite Ghana’s Make Me a Success and its CEO Fathia Ansah-Plonge believes she has got something that is more than simply a copy. Russell Southwood interviewed her about what she hopes to achieve with the new format. Make Me a Success is a 1 hour reality programme with 13 episodes. Its focus, according to Ansah-Plonge, is on “empowering women from poor communities and villages”. The women selected all want to become enterprising women and put through various challenges before…
Content
South Africa: The Locker Room wins MIPDOC Co-prod Challenge
In partnership with Reed MIDEM, realscreen co-presented the fifth edition of the MIPDOC Co-production Challenge, which allows five international producers to present their projects to a jury of broadcasters. One…
Content
New documentary exposes Zimbabwe jail horror
An explosive documentary to be screened at 9.30pm on SABC3’s Special Assignment shows Zimbabwean prisoners dying of starvation and disease. by Benjamin Bradlow The footage, shot secretly with the help…
Content
AFDA big winner at M-Net EDiT Awards
Men of the Number, a production from AFDA (South African School of Motion Picture Medium & Live Performance) has won the best film award as well as best director, best…
Content
Zimbabwe: Another Amakhosi Production Censored
Before he could recover from the decision by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to suspend the screening of his popular soap Amakorokoza, Mhlanga has had another of his big ideas…
Content
Content IN BRIEF
- Together with advertising agency Ogilvy Johannesburg, the ANC has produced four commercials that highlight the positive changes ordinary South Africans have experienced since 1994, while acknowledging “there is much…
Content
New licence for South African Free-To-Air satellite television station coming
South Africa is set to get another free-to-air television station. This was announced by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) last Friday in a move to remedy the failed…
Content
Nigeria: Delta Suspends GM, Board of Radio, TV
Delta State government has suspended the board of the Delta State Broadcasting Service (DBS) Warri, the General Manager of the broadcasting organisation, Willy Sowbo, as well as the board of…
Content
Ghana: Uneasy Calm At GBC over new wages and benefits structure
Workers of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) are fuming with rage over the new salary structure that has been introduced. This development, which began in January this year, according to…
Content
Botswana: BTV in Factitious Tangle With BDP Factions?
State television, Btv, has been accused of involvement in Botswana Democratic Party's (BDP) factional wars. This followed a story Btv carried last Friday about the recent launch of the ruling…
Content
Broadcast IN BRIEF
- Workers at Cote d’Ivoire’s RTI have been staging “sit-ins” that have bought the work of the station to a standstill. According to Notre Voie 303 staff were involved in…
Distribution
BlackBerry to Launch TV Episode Service?
RIM is planning to announce a full-episode television service for BlackBerry users as early as next week at CTIA. According to NewTeevee.com: * It will be an unlimited monthly subscription…
Distribution
Mobile TV: Ericsson pushes HSPA world record to 56Mbps
Ericsson continues to increase HSPA speeds for an even better user experience and sustainable development of mobile broadband. Higher data rates give users an instantaneous connection. A click on a…
Distribution
Distribution IN BRIEF
- Government through the Rwanda Utility Regulatory Agency (RURA) is considering action against the GTV, a satellite television service across Africa whose local office closed down on short notice. Steven…
Technology & Convergence
MultiChoice takes the leap into broadband for rugby package
MultiChoice is branching out from satellite television with its new broadband rugby offering. It is branching out from satellite television with its new broadband rugby offering, but it's hardly a…
Technology & Convergence
Saatchi & Saatchi install HD video conference system
Saatchi & Saatchi has announced it has installed a High Definition Polycom video conferencing system, making it the first South African ad agency to adopt this technology. The system is…
Regulation & Policy
Cameroon: Mincom To Re-launch Community Radios
Ways of realising the 2009 plan of action of the Ministry of Communication are currently being examined by external and internal staff of the ministry. Minister of Communication, Jean-Pierre Biyiti…
Regulation & Policy
Zanu PF ‘blocks’ Media Conference
A crucial conference to lay the groundwork for the reform of Zimbabwe’s troubled media was cancelled at the last minute on Friday, dashing hopes the inclusive government is ready to…
Investment
Telkom fails to find a new investor for Telkom Media and closes company
The process to sell Telkom Media has failed and its main shareholder will push for the liquidation of the business, it was announced this morning. Telkom, which holds a 66%…
Investment
Ethiopia: UNESCO sponsors training and equipment for 10 school Mini-Media Clubs
UNESCO, in collaboration with the Peace, Family and Media Association (PFMA), has sponsored training and equipment for school mini-media clubs in 10 locations in Addis Ababa. Luc Rukinama, UNESCO’s Representative…
Investment
Investment IN BRIEF
- It remains to be seen whether the South African public broadcaster SABC, which faces a deficit of R800m, will be able to honour its commitment expressed recently not to…
More
Rwanda: Fifth Film Festival to Be Held in June
This year's film festival has been pushed to June in order for it to coincide with the popular annually celebrated Gorilla Naming Ceremony commonly known as Kwita Izina. According to…
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Africalia supports documentary!
2 films co-produced by Africalia are in the official selection for the documentary competition of the Festival des cinémas africains (African Film Festival) in Brussels. On this occasion, Africalia would…
