Issue No 96 20 January 2011
Top Story
There is life after football – CAfrica rolls out the NBA across the continent
It would be easy to think that the only sport of interest to Africans was football. It grabs all the attention and the largest slice of the programme rights money spent on sport to be shown in Africa. But African television channels are beginning to realise that they can’t all end up with the key football rights so developing other sports programming may be a smart move. Russell Southwood talked to CAfrica’s Managing Director Cathy Fogler about its ambition to deliver “premium sports programs through a formal network of free-to-air broadcasters in sub-Saharan Africa.”CAfrica was launched by a trio of…
Broadcast
Glo Launches Dstv Mobile
Subscribers of major West African mobile service provider, Globacom, can now watch DStv programmes on their mobile phones as the company rolls out the DStvMobile service on Glo.The product, called,…
Broadcast
Togo regulator closes three radio stations – “Administrative reasons” press release
The Togolese authorities on December 29, 2010 closed down three privately-owned radio stations in Lome, the capital, over administrative reasons.A statement issued by the regulatory body, Posts and Telecommunications' Regulatory…
Broadcast
Oprah launches her OWN cable channel
Talk show diva and cultural kingmaker Oprah Winfrey expands her media empire with the high-stakes launch of her OWN cable network.While Winfrey's comfy couches have launched scores of careers, from…
Broadcast
Nigeria: Abuja bomb blast - Presidency accuses Al Jazeera of evil plot
From Abuja, the presidency has accused international news operation, Aljazeera of seeking to destabilise Nigeria through false reports, saying it would not condone any further reckless and deliberate falsehood.In a…
Broadcast
In Brief - Broadcast
South Africa’s satellite TV newcomer Top TV secured more than 200 000 subscribers in seven months. It is planning a sports channel and “free” HD channels. State security agents ransacked Teranga…
Content
South Africa: SABC1 announces highlights for January 2011
SABC1 has announced the highlights of the season starting in January 2011:Soul Buddyz 5: Monday 10 Jan @ 19:00An exciting, positive and up-beat drama series detailing the lives and challenges…
Content
Growth of Nollywood undermined by lack of cinemas and piracy
This summarised version of an article by Richard Seymour in Nigeria’s Compass newspaper offers many interesting insights into the development of the continent’s largest film industry.Nollywood owes its recent expansion…
Content
Made in Cape Town: African sci-fi
Far from being a District 9 copy, the new black-and-white sci-fi film from Cape Town-based production company Be Phat Motel has its own dark ambience and unique character that is…
Content
South Africa: Neill Blomkamp's new video leads fans on a digital treasure hunt
When South African film-maker Neill Blomkamp's strange new short went viral (in Oct 2010) it prompted many questions: is this a clue to Blomkamp's mooted District 9 sequel? Or his…
Content
In Brief - Content
The future of Moroccan cinema is having a very creative time at the moment. This is what came out of the works selected for the short film competition (Cinécole) Marrakech…
Distribution
Cinemas for Africa launches a fund to renovate Soudan Ciné in Bamako as a pilot
Cinemas in Africa have been closing down one after the other over the last twenty years. Today, many countries have only one working cinema left. The Association ‘Cinemas for Africa’…
Distribution
SA: new Killarney CineCentre will open in March 2011
The new Killarney CineCentre will open in March 2011 and will have a full-3D complex with five screens totalling 708 seats. It owner, with over 50 years in the industry,…
Distribution
In Brief - Distribution
Workshop at DISCOP: Differentiate your TV channel – Standing out from the competition. The TV stations that will make their mark in 2011 and succeed in gaining market share will…
Investment
Naspers stake in Facebook worth $343m
South Africa-based multinational media conglomerate Naspers has an indirect stake in Facebook worth $343 million (R2.3 billion) following a multimillion-dollar injection into the social-networking site by US bank Goldman Sachs…
Investment
Grass Valley acquisition complete
Francisco Partners have completed their acquisition of Grass Valley Broadcast & Professional (active in Africa) from Technicolor.As of January 1st 2011, the California-based firm started operating as an independent company…
Investment
In Brief - Investment
Investments at FESPACO 2011: Fespaco, the largest gathering of African cinema to be held from February 26 to March 5, 2011 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Fasso will be bigger again this…
Regulation & Policy
Uganda: Government blocks radio stations from live broadcasting Buganda Kingdom Conference
The Ttabamiruka is an annual conference organised by the Buganda Kingdom to review and discuss the social, cultural, economic and developmental issues of the kingdom. The theme for the 2010…
Regulation & Policy
Nigeria: NBC Blames Parties
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has blamed political parties for the poor representation they receive from state broadcast stations. NBC's Head of Public Affairs Awwalu Salihu said refusal of aggrieved…
Regulation & Policy
In Brief - Regulation&Policy
Reporters Without Borders condemns the acts of intimidation and violence to which journalists are currently being subjected in Côte d'Ivoire, as the political crisis resulting from the 28 November presidential…
Technology & Convergence
South Africa will complete digital TV migration by December 2013
Communications Minister Radhakrishna Padayachie announced last week that South Africa will complete the process of migrating from analogue to digital television by December 2013. The analogue switch off date was…
Technology & Convergence
The Pan African Media Portal (PAMP) will be launched in March 2011
The African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Media Initiative (AMI) convened a meeting on the Pan African Media Portal (PAMP) in Nairobi, Kenya, on 21 December 2010. The African…
Technology & Convergence
In Brief - Technology&Convergence
On January 13, 2011, Toshiba Corporation reinforced its LCD TV line-up for Egypt, the Middle East and Africa with the launch of a comprehensive line-up of new models, ranging from…
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Events
21-29 January 201112th. “Festival national du film (FNF) Marocain” in TangierVenue: Tangier - city in northern MoroccoLong and short film competition hosted by Ahmed Ghazali, « président de la Haute…
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People
At the start of January 2011, it was announced that South African Parliament is moving ahead to fill the four vacancies on the SABC’s board, with its communications committee due…
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Opportunities
ACP Films to African film ProducersComing soon: a new call for proposalsThe new ACP-EU ACP cultural sector Support Programme will be launched in 2011 and includes two components: ACPFilms and…
