Issue no 79 14 May 2010
Top Story
Radio and TV stations using SMS messaging to raise money and generate interactivity
One vital source of income for TV and radio stations is the SMS messages sent in as votes or in response to competitions or questions about programmes. Although the income share of SMS votes on reality TV show programmes are big money earners – sometimes nearly enough to finance the programme – very few media owners have a clear strategy for raising money in this way. Russell Southwood spoke to Charles Etekamba Ekanem, Director of ESJ Interactive, who is hoping to change things in this industry.Q: What does your SMS Messaging Platform do?A: The MediaResponse platform suite, which is made…
Broadcast
Top TV hits the air waves
Top TV was launched on April 29th 2010, aiming to capture the market between the "free" SABC and e-tv channels and the more expensive DStv channel (see previous Afridigital’s issue).…
Broadcast
MultiChoice strikes back
Satellite TV company MultiChoice fires first salvo in battle with TopTV. It has confirmed that the DStv operator is launching a new bouquet, DStv Lite, aimed at heading off the…
Broadcast
New pay-TV service Super 5 Media plans June 2010 launch
On the 6th. May 2010, TechCentral reported that Super 5 Media (formerly Telkom Media) plans to launch a satellite and cable pay-TV service on 1 June, hot on the heels…
Broadcast
Nigeria: NBC Urged to Ensure Better Pay for Media Workers
The lowest paid worker at any media organization should earn not less than N80, 000 while staff on Level 17 should earn nothing less than N652, 000 monthly, the committee…
Broadcast
Broadcast News: In Brief
Anthony Dara, CEO of NN24, Nigeria's premium 24 hours news channel, has announced that its channel is now on air. Showing on channel 414 DStv, NN24 provides "News on the…
Content
Mediapeers offers a plethora of content on 2010 World Cup in South Africa
TV content buyers, TV programme managers, are you ready for 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa? Online content distributor Mediapeers has put together a dedicated screening selection. This selection…
Content
S.A. film “Finding Lenny” wins International Award
Neal Sundstrom’s 2009 film “Finding Lenny” wowed audiences at the Pan African Film Festival in Cannes, France at the end of April 2010. The movie “Finding Lenny” (90’) was filmed…
Content
63rd Cannes Film Festival: Chadian film in official competition
For the first time in over ten years, an African film is selected for the “Palme d'Or” (gold palm). “Un homme qui crie n'est pas un ours qui danse” (“A…
Content
SADC - SABC channel partnership
According to a press release by SADC 2010 Programme coordinator Rama Arya, the Investment Promotion Programme seeks to raise awareness about the region and promote sustainable economic investment into SADC…
Content
Content News: In Brief
World Press Freedom Day was commemorated on Monday, 3 May 2010, by press organisations worldwide. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has made available a package of…
Distribution
Intelsat will transmit the Soccer Championships to the World
Intelsat will provide more than 700 MHz of satellite capacity on as many as seven satellites within its global fleet for transmission services of the 2010 soccer championship. Rights-holding and…
Distribution
SA: Adolescence TV series launched
As children reach adolescence, peers begin to play an important role in their lives. Adolescents with low self-esteem find it important to prove themselves and look for ways to compensate…
Distribution
Distribution News: In Brief
In line with the current global trend towards all things 3D, 11 more RealD 3D screens are to be added to the Nu Metro Cinemas circuit in South Africa. Red…
Investment
Kenya: Small Radio Stations Tune Into Profits in a Crowded Market
Victor Juma wrote on 3 May 2010 in the BUSINESS DAILY: The youth of Korogocho have their own radio station. Since 2006, Koch FM, has been broadcasting in the sprawling…
Investment
Investment: In Brief
Ogilvy & Mather and Scangroup Limited have agreed to create a pan-African joint venture via a share swap transaction, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval, in order to strengthen a…
Regulation & Policy
South Africa: Kagiso seeks more time for digital TV application
Kagiso Media has applied to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for an extension of the deadline for aspirant providers of digital TV signal to mobile handsets to…
Regulation & Policy
Botswana: Btv going through political issues
The Director of Broadcasting Services, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo has said that Botswana Television (Btv) will continue to flight re-runs of certain news items including those that favour the ruling party, despite…
Regulation & Policy
Regulation & Policy News: In Brief
Reporters Without Borders is deeply saddened to learn that Sheik Nur Mohamed Abkey, a radio journalist based in Mogadishu, yesterday became the first journalist to be murdered this year in…
Technology & Convergence
South Africa: Conference to decide on standard for TV decoders
The Department of Communications will hold a conference on 29 April 2010 to finalize the technology standard for TV decoders, which will be used to receive a digital broadcast signal.…
Technology & Convergence
SA audience measurement: Nielsen gets TAMS contract
The SAARF board has announced the new TAMS contract, which runs until March 2018, has been awarded to AGB Nielsen Media Research (AGB NMR), subject to a suitable agreement being…
Technology & Convergence
Technology & Convergence News: In Brief
CANAL OVERSEAS has announced that it launched Catch Up TV via par satellite in Mauritius and Reunion, branded: “CANAL + A LA DEMANDE”. The service is free of charge for…
More
Events
*12-23 May 2010 Festival de Cannes / Cannes Film Festival venue: Palais du Festival, Cannes, South of France. The Festival de Cannes has celebrated the cinema for more than 60…
More
People
Nigeria: Nominations at 2010 TERRACOTTA AWARDS. The 2010 Terracotta Awards – the Nigerian Film and Television Awards – was held at the Nicon Luxury in Abuja during the ZUMA FILM…
More
More News: In Brief
In direct line with Katharine Hepburn (African Queen -1951) and Meryl Streep (Out of Africa - 1985), French actress Isabelle Huppert is the main character of a production prompting questions…
Opportunities
Opportunities and requests
African journalists: Registration open for the 14th Annual Highway Africa Conference The conference is the world’s largest gathering of African journalists. The conference will take place at Rhodes University’s Eden…
