87- 2 September 2010
Top Story
Ultima Studios fire underlines need for back-up plan but do African producers save copies of their work?
The recent fire damage to Ultima Studios’ in Nigeria (see Broadcast News below) and the 2008 fire in Universal Studios’ video vault underline the importance of holding a back-up and making a proper archive of work. Balancing Act’s Sylvain Beletre looks at what the practice in Africa has been so far and suggests some easy ways to overcome the problem.The good news regarding Ultima Studios' recent fire is that the chairman confirmed that they carefully save copies of their work.Cherise Barsell, Executive Manager of Discop Africa (taking place this week) told us: “for producers, backing up audio-visual content is crucial.…
Broadcast
Discop news round-up from day one
A stream consciousness news feed from day one of the Discop media market…Euronews is signing up a growing number of broadcasters to transmit sections of its news channel, including a…
Broadcast
Nigeria: Goodluck’s Presidential campaign tears Nollywood apart
As the 2011 general elections draw nearer, the decision of some Nollywood stars to collect N300,000 each before campaigning for President Goodluck Ebelo Jonathan ambition has torn the Nigerian movie…
Broadcast
Nigeria: Ultima Studios on fire
Sunday August 22, 2010, it was revealed that a serious fire completely damaged the Ultima Studios in Murhi International building at Omole, Lagos, in Nigeria. The Ultima Studios are where…
Broadcast
Broadcast New: In Brief
- Recognising Africa’s extraordinary appetite for top class football, DStv’s SuperSport has responded on 11 August 2010 by extending their rights to broadcast three of the biggest leagues in the…
Content
“Benda Bilili!” documentary soon to be broadcast in Africa
Upcoming “Benda Bilili!” will be released start of September 2010 and is about to be distributed. It should be very well received across Africa. DRC and Reunion have already signed…
Content
Orange could make payTV content partnership with Canal +: CEO says it does not want to be majority operator of Pay TV channel
On August 27, 2010, there was a press rumour that Orange (France Telecom) is close to concluding an agreement with Vivendi-owned Canal + station that would manage its encrypted movie…
Content
Long Street, new S.A. film about to be distributed
Long Street, the new film from South African director Revel Fox (The Flyer), releases in selected cinemas on the local circuit on 24 September. The feature film draws on the…
Content
Only a few days left before African Women Festival
Women of the Sun, in conjunction with the Goethe Institute, the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) and the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), are putting African women filmmakers on the…
Content
Content News: In Brief
- More productions on green issues are to be expected: Climate change, Global warming, Greenhouse effects are on South African consumers' minds: this is what revealed Synovate through a recent…
Distribution
Distributor Cote Ouest will launch its first local drama series – l’histore d’une vie – in October
Next month Cote Ouest, Africa’s leading francophone film distributor will launch its first commissioned drama series, l’histoire d’une vie, a love story set in Cote d’Ivoire during the civil war.…
Distribution
More ISPs Sign Up For Dstv On Demand
DStv On Demand is a service offered to DStv’s Premium subscribers which was launched in May 2010. It is offered free of charge and is a service in which selected…
Distribution
Distribution News: In Brief
- South Africa: National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has released a study this week, intended to establish the attitude of the learners towards local films, while looking at their…
Technology & Convergence
Uganda’s Makerere University partners with Digimation UK to offer animation courses
Kampala — Uganda's quest to embrace new trends in modern information communication technology is moving up, as the country now moves to digital animation.Makerere University and Digimation UK have entered…
Technology & Convergence
South Africans now regularly purchase movies online
On 20th August 2010, market research company Synovate uncovered the online spending habits of South African Internet users. The survey reveals that audio-visual content providers in Africa should consider “secured”…
Technology & Convergence
Technology & Convergence News: In Brief
- On August 2010, DStv launched a new innovative self-service support on the web. Help for DStv subscribers in South Africa is now a click away. MultiChoice is enabling its…
Regulation & Policy
South Africa: Cosatu Seeks More Clarity On ANC Media Plans
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) says it does not believe in media self- regulation but will not support a proposed media tribunal until there is more clarity…
Regulation & Policy
Uganda: Govt Appeals CBS Radio Ruling
The Government is to appeal the ruling on its counter-claim against the CBS radio that was dismissed on August 20 by High Court judge Vincent Zehurikize.The Attorney General (AG), on…
Regulation & Policy
Regulation & Policy News: In Brief
- Nigeria: Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, has asked the media to guard against taking sides in the coverage of political activities during the…
Investment
Tunisia unveils stimulus package to boost film industry
On August 22, 2010, it was reported that the Tunisian government have recently set up a national committee and unveiled a stimulus package to boost the ailing film industry of…
Investment
DStv introduces interactive digimag
DStv introduces Dish Digital, an online, easy-to-use and interactive digimag, which provides subscribers with DStv’s programme scheduling, top highlights and premieres at the click of a mouse. A digital offering…
Investment
Investment News: In Brief
- A new television ad for Toyota Corolla, featuring the much-loved spokesdog Buddy the brindle Boxer, stresses the vehicle’s ‘fan club’ appeal.
More
Events
1-3 Sept 2010 DISCOP AFRICA 4 DISCOP AFRICA is the main audiovisual content distribution, programming, and coproduction conference and exhibition, which targets free and pay television services operators from 47…
More
People
The board of MultiChoice South Africa Holdings announced the appointment of Nolo Letele as executive chairperson of the Multichoice South Africa Holdings Board, effective from 01 October 2010. Khulu Sibiya,…
More
Opportunities
Africa First deadline extendedFollowing requests from filmmakers to Focus Features’ Africa First program director Kisha Cameron-Dingle and Focus director of production Matthew Plouffe at the recent Durban FilmMart in South…
