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Almost African independents day - It's not what you do but the way that you do it

A meeting of the South African Parliament's Communications Portfolio Committee offered the first glimpse of an independent television production sector struggling to assert itself against the old monopoly ways. With the exception of Nigeria, where they nearly always do things differently, Africa's independent television producers have almost no space in which to earn a living. Russell Southwood seeks to explain why this matter for the development of broadcasting on the continent.

In this issue

Content

GTV begins continental roll-out to meet demand for Barclays Premiership League

Nigeria: HiTV to Shine With Live Matches

Africa: "The Benghazi Six"

Nigeria: Nigerian outrage over nude video

Broadcast

Botswana: Multichoice Wins Appeal

Sierra Leone: Two Presenters Injured in Armed Attack On Evangelical Radio Station

Botswana: Multichoice Subscribers Disappointed

Botswana: A New Pay TV Arrives

Namibia: NBC Goes for One EPL Match

Kenya: Slum Community Radio Hits the Airwaves

Distribution

Liberia: DSTV Reduces Subscription Fees

Namibia: DSTV Feels Wrath of Soccer Fans

Uganda: GTV, Fufa Deal Operational Oct. 15

Investment

Africa: Telkom signs R225m 2010 Deal with Fifa

Rwanda: Chinese Invest Big Into IT and TV in Rwanda

More

Regulation & policy

Technology & convergence

Events

People

Letter

Top story

Almost African independents day - It's not what you do but the way that you do it

A meeting of the South African Parliament's Communications Portfolio Committee offered the first glimpse of an independent television production sector struggling to assert itself against the old monopoly ways. With the exception of Nigeria, where they nearly always do things differently, Africa's independent television producers have almost no space in which to earn a living. Russell Southwood seeks to explain why this matter for the development of broadcasting on the continent.

In the olden days, there used to be a single, vertically-integrated telephone company. Now there are many companies competing and offering very different services. One outgrowth of liberalisation was a small but noisy Internet and cyber-café sector. The liberalisation of the telecoms market (particularly the mobile sector) in Africa has generated a significant part of the exceptional economic growth of some parts of the continent over the last five years.

Africa's broadcasting industry is just on the threshold of undergoing a similar liberalisation. If it is successful it will produce similar economic growth with an upsurge in the use of independent television companies. 

Take the example of the United Kingdom. Independent broadcasters banded together in the 1980s and persuaded the Government that it would be a good idea if 25% of the BBC's output as public broadcaster was sourced from independent companies. Almost simultaneously, Channel 4 was launched as an advertising supported broadcaster with a completely different production model. Instead of having all its own production and post-production staff, the new Channel had only programme commissioners. All its programmes (and the post-production work from them) came from the newly fostered independent television production sector. This sector has changed shape and size over time. Many of the smaller companies have been gobbled up as the sector consolidated. But it is now a significant area of employment in the UK economy.

Currently many African broadcasting companies are organisations that are both low on funding and any form of creative energy. With occasional exceptions, the local programmes they produce are competent rather than riveting. Indeed Nollywood director Lancelot Imasuen was quoted as saying in response to a question about his prodigious output: 'In Nigeria what we do is an offshoot of television. Back in the Eighties, some soap operas were very popular - Cock Crow at Dawn, Mirror in the Sun, The New Masquerade. And when the government's policies relating to the Nigerian Television Authority no longer favoured the production of those soaps, Nollywood was born. Nollywood is a direct offshoot of the television drama. If you ask a television series producer in the UK or US how many episodes he or she produces each year, would you be surprised if they answered hundreds?' Perhaps this is why Nigeria is home to the Nigerian Independent TV Producers Association although they have yet to find a place for themselves in the industry.

So if Governments and the broadcasters want to light a spark - both creatively and economically - they need to insist that a significant proportion of local production is produced independently and through this encourage the creation of independent post-production facilities. For the significance of Nollywood is that it is one small area of programming that seems to travel well across the continent. African broadcasters need creative energy and ideas that will produce some programmes that they can sell to each other. And with new input from a competitive Pay-TV market perhaps an African television programme market will begin to take the first tentative steps.

Those appearing before the Parliamentary Communications Portfolio Committee give some idea of the kind of difficulties that other African independent producers have to struggle with. The margins offered by the monopoly public broadcaster are low, somewhere between 6-10%. The Independent Producers Organisation President and CEO of Endemol South Africa said that his company's worldwide margins were 26%, whilst in South Africa one of the programmes it produces, Isidingo, had only a 6% margin.

SABC Group Chief Executive Dali Mpofu reportedly shook his head at this but perhaps he should "get out more" to know what really happens elsewhere. He told the Committee meeting:"Value and capital do not fall from trees. You invest something and get value." But as the only significant buyer of programmes, the SABC enforces short-term contracts and insists that all the intellectual property rights are its alone. It will be hard to co-finance programmes as happens elsewhere if the rights remain only with one party,

The SABC offered what will be a familiar defence to those that have already fought this war: we are trying and we're doing a little better than we were. SABC deputy chairwoman Christine Qunta said the broadcaster had assisted the development of many small black companies. CEO Dali Mpofu said the SABC had increased the local content of its programmes dramatically since 2003, from 70% to 83%. Qunta said under the SABC's funding model there was not much else that could be done. And perhaps this the nub of it.

The South African Government is keen to make the most of its hosting of the World Cup. It is spemding a great deal to make sure the physical infrastructure is in place. It would not take a great deal more resources to ensure that the Broadcast people resources were also in place. This alongside a higher quota of independently produced programmes would begin to foster the right kind of people resource development.

Further afield, the pioneers of IP-TV are discovering that they are in a content business but all too often the sources of exciting and watch-able content rest in the hands of monopoly owners. One such company operates in a country where there is a significant and reasonably well-funded state broadcaster but nearly all local producing talent ends up going to work in France.

Africa has to be creative about how it organises its state broadcasting in order that it can get creative to lay the golden goose egg the continent needs.

Content

GTV begins continental roll-out to meet demand for Barclays Premiership League

Across Africa, fans of Barclays Premier League football have noticed a change to the way the 2007-8 season is broadcast. For the first time in history, the rights have been shared between broadcasters. To widen access to live matches across Africa, the Barclays Premier League has granted the lion's share of matches to a new company, GTV (GBS in Ghana).

GTV is currently offering service in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana and Mauritius and has firm plans to roll-out in the following countries over the next couple of months: Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe over the next couple of months.
Further expansion will cover Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Francophone countries by the end of the year with coverage of the whole of sub-Saharan Africa achieved by mid 2008.

GTV is committed to making the competition accessible to more fans than ever before by proving that world-class programming should not be the preserve of the elite.

GTV is currently rolling out a new, more affordable pay-TV service across Africa. This service includes 80 per cent of all Barclays Premier League matches for 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This includes up to 8 live matches per week on G-Sports 1 and 2. All the top matches influencing the top of the table, relegation and European competition qualification are included.

Rhys Torrington, GTV's Commercial Director, commented:

"I want to assure all the fans who have been in contact with GTV that we are listening. A change on this scale to the way the Barclays Premier League is broadcast in Africa does not come without a few challenges. Each market is different, and we are working with all the relevant regulators to ensure we play by the rules. Everyone at GTV is working non-stop to get GTV into homes and businesses as soon as possible.

"GTV is here for the long term, and our promise to African football fans is to deliver the best of the Barclays Premier League at a much more affordable price. We're asking fans for their patience and their support while we continue our rollout across the continent.

Nigeria: HiTV to Shine With Live Matches

Nigerian pay television operator, HITV, has announced a new regime of live broadcast of the Barclays (English) Premier League, which kicks off this weekend, August 12, 2007 with the transmission of eight live and exclusive games.

Speaking in Lagos recently Subair confirmed that the new cable television has eight live matches of the premiership every week. This, he stated constitutes 80 percent of the games. "There are 380 matches in the premiership season. HiTV has 80 percent of this which translates to eight live games every week. This is in the package A which we won in an open competitive bidding. I am also proud to announce to you that we have the important games of the premiership." He explained that this leaves out just 20 percent, which is only two games a week to whom it may concern to pick up.

Contrary to claims by rival operator, Multichoice, owners of Supersports that it still has right to broadcast many matches of the premiership Subair hinted that it may have picked up the rights of the two other matches which are in package B of the league. He also stated that the new regime of rights allows one free to air match every week for local television stations to exploit including weekly highlights. This is what the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, and stations on the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, Network are going to show.

Already HiTV has begun a campaign to create awareness for the new regime of live broadcast which begins on Sunday, August 12. The campaign underlines that it has eight exclusive games in what it calls seven hours of weekend football feast.

Also the young company, in answering the call by football fans outside Lagos to extend its services across the country, would be launching its satellite platform this week before the commencement of the league.

HiTV would be delivering to local homes with its own dedicated sports channels the Spanish La Liga, the Italian Serie A, the English Premier League, the American NBA basketball, other sports like wrestling and first class tennis action.

The management of the firm equally restated its commitment to bringing the games at affordable price of N3, 000 monthly subscription. The Managing Director of HiTV says that bringing down the price of pay TV is the aim of his company, "to give to Nigerians the most correct and best quality premium television programming at the right and the most affordable price."

At the launch of HiTV, owned by Entertainment Highway Limited, EHL, in February former Minister of Information and Communication, Frank Nweke Jnr decried the situation where Nigerians have to pay exorbitant amount for TV, saying it is the most expensive in the world.

Among the channels HiTV would be delivering to local homes with the aid of this technology and on its Direct to Home, DTH, are EuroSports News, Foxsports, CNN, BBC, Sky News, HI Kids, Hi Nolly, Hi Life and its own dedicated sports channels- Hi Soccer, Hi Sports and Hi Sports 2 to deliver the Spanish La Liga, the Italian Serie A, the English Premier League, the American NBA basketball, other sports like wrestling and tennis.
(Vanguard (Lagos), 7 August 2007)

Africa: "The Benghazi Six"

Hollywood filmmakers hope to bring to the big screen the eight-year ordeal of six foreign medics convicted of deliberately injecting 460 Libyan children with the HIV virus. Sixth Sense Productions, which helped raise funding for Oscar-nominated genocide drama "Hotel Rwanda", said the five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor had signed over their life rights for the film project "The Benghazi Six". The medics, who were sentenced to death, were freed on July 24 after the European Union brokered a cooperation deal with Libya following years of complex legal and political battles. "The story of 'The Benghazi Six' is ... inspirational having the six medics survive what they survived in prison throughout the years and lived to see their freedom," said Sam Feuer, president of development and production at Sixth Sense. (Reuters)

Nigeria: Nigerian outrage over nude video

A video showing a northern Nigerian film actress in a sex scene has caused a public outcry in the Muslim north. The outraged Kano State Filmmakers Association has expelled the actress and her lover, along with 17 others.

The 17 were not connected to the video but were thought to be involved in "immoral acts" such as drunkenness and fornication, a local newspaper says. The un-named actress is now in hiding after the eight-minute mobile phone clip was circulated across the north.

"This was the first time such exposure involving Hausa-Fulani persons was witnessed in the country," reports the Leadership newspaper. The Hausa-Fulani are the dominant ethnic groups in the predominantly conservative Muslim north.

Muslim clerics have condemned the video clip, while radio programmes have been full of complaints about immorality in Nigeria's film industry. Nollywood, Nigeria's hugely successful home video industry, is mostly based in the country's less conservative Christian south.

In the past few years a Hausa language home video industry, known as Kannywood, has sprung up in the largest northern city, Kano. Hausa is the most widely spoken language across northern Nigeria.
(BBC)

Broadcast

Botswana: Multichoice Wins Appeal

The Court of Appeal has held that Multi Choice Botswana was not a broadcaster in Botswana but only enabled subscribers to receive broadcasts. Multi Choice Botswana, is a company associated with Multi Choice Africa, a South Africa-based company that provides the DStv subscription television service to subscribers in Botswana and elsewhere in Africa.

The wrangle between Multi Choice Botswana and the National Broadcasting Board (NBB) followed the granting of a broadcasting licence by the board in October 21, 2005. However, the High Court subsequently set aside the board's decision on the basis that the Broadcasting Act has not kept pace with advances in technology.

Dismissing NBB's appeal with costs the Court Of Appeal noted that it seemed that some line has to be drawn between putting together the package of material to be broadcast and making and transmitting the signal and making or participating in the arrangements which enabled a person to receive the signal.

Citing an example, the Court of Appeal stated that the provision of satellite dishes and decoders would not fall within the definition of broadcasting.

Defining broadcasting within the context of the Broadcasting Act, the Court of Appeal said it is the action of transmitting a signal by various means identified in the definition while distribution referred to distribution by means of terrestrial, cable, satellite or optical fibre.
(The Voice (Francistown), 7 August 2007)

Sierra Leone: Two Presenters Injured in Armed Attack On Evangelical Radio Station

Reporters Without Borders last week condemned an attack by gunmen on Believers Broadcasting Network (BBN), a protestant-run radio station in Freetown, in the early hours of 4 August in which two radio presenters were shot and seriously injured.

"Coming just a few days before general elections on 11 August, this armed attack should be taken seriously," the press freedom organisation said. "We urge the police to quickly establish the motives, so that BBN is able to cover the elections without its staff feeling in any danger."

An employee said about 10 gunmen burst into BBN's studios at about 4 a.m., pointed their guns at presenters Mohamed Kamara and Patrick Thomas, demanded money, and disarmed a security guard who tried to intervene. The intruders then ordered them to lie down and fired at them, hitting Kamara and Thomas. They took two computers and other equipment as they left.

Kamara and Thomas were rushed to hospital for treatment to their injuries, which were not considered life-threatening. The police are investigating and so far they have no reason to think the attack was politically motivated.
(Reporters sans Frontières (Paris), 9 August 2007)

Botswana: Multichoice Subscribers Disappointed

Multichoice subscribers have expressed their anger towards MultiChoice management for not informing them before hand that they (subscribers) will not be able to watch all their favourite English Premiership games as usual. They believe that they have been cheated since MultiChoice knew that most of the subscribers pay to watch theSupersport channels which televise the games.

One of the subscribers, Tshimologo Boitumelo did not hide his displeasure. He told Mmegi that it is even disappointing that MultiChoice management have been telling conflicting stories.

He said that while some say that they only learnt on Thursday last week that they have lost the rights to televise all the games, some say that they knew about eight months ago.Tshimologo also revealed that the manager had not been willing to answer calls from subscribers. He also said that MultiChoice service has been very poor all along. He expressed his displeasure at the monopoly adding that perhaps it is time someone came in to compete. He also confirmed that beside him, many people flocked the MultiChoice offices on Saturday demanding an explanation from the management.

Another subscriber, Tshiamo Rantao also said that he is aggrieved that he paid to watch Premiership games adding that he could not watch his favourite team, Arsenal, when it played against Fulham. "They did not even put any notice or advert in the papers so that we could know well in time that we will only be able to watch 20 percent of the games. They should have told us when we paid the monthly fees that our contract with them will be affected," he said.

It is said that though Batswana will only watch 20percent of the games, South Africans will enjoy 100percent of the games as usual, something that has not gone well with the local subscribers.Some Botswana customers want to subscribe in South Africa so that they can enjoy a full programme there.

The English Premiership has been the most popular European league among not only Batswana but also other African countries. Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have attracted the most supporters in the country compared to other European leagues as evidenced by the support they get during the UEFA Champions League and it will be a big blow for MultiChoice subscribers locally having to watch only 20% of the games this season. This has emerged during a conversation with some of the subscribers who said that they only paid to watch Supersport channels.

Some even said that they had not paid their subscription since the English Premiership season came to an end and only had to pay for last week to watch the games which started on Saturday. Some even said that they would stop paying subscriptions.

For her part, Multi-Choice Botswana Public Relations Manager, Tshepho Maphanyane, in an interview with Ya Rona FM on Monday morning confirmed that they have lost the bid. Maphanyane said even the 20 percent of the games that they are allowed to show, will not allow them to choose the games they want. Maphanyane said although they have lost the premiership, they will show other major leagues such as French and the Spanish La Liga.
(Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone), 14 August 2007)

Botswana: A New Pay TV Arrives

A new pay television broadcaster is launching in Botswana. The new channel, GTV, comes at a time when there is a groundswell of disillusionment particularly amongst football lovers after Multi Choice failed to buy the rights to televise live a great chunk of the English premiership games.

GTV is owned by Gateway Communications. Although a release from the group has not given an indication of how much the service would cost, they are adamant that theirs would be available at an affordable price.

"When it comes to television, all too often Africans have been faced with limited choice, low quality and poor value for money but that is about to change," the release says adding that GTV will bring quality viewing and a great choice." Viewers will have access to major international channels as well as GTV's own channels created especially to satisfy local tastes. Programming will include a diverse range of news, sports, movies, popular series, music, and religious content. Among GTV's own channels will be prime, 'G Prime', an exciting entertainment and movie channel, and G sports, showing the best in live international and African sports including European football.

"GTV will reduce entry level pricing and boost customer service, providing real value for money. GTV will be a natural choice for Batswana previously limited to viewing national free to air television stations." Talking about Botswana, the statement observes that the Botswana market has been artificially constrained by monopoly pricing and non-relevant content. "Consumers want to watch the latest high quality television programming that combines international and local content at an affordable price. Whether for sports, entertainment, news or education, GTV will ensure quality content is accessible to many rather than a select few."

The release notes that currently only about 4 percent of households in Botswana subscribe to satellite service.Although information is still scanty it is widely believed that GTV will screen live a lion's share of the premiership matches. Information reaching Mmegi is that the new station has won 80 percent of the matches while Multi Choice's DSTV will feed from the remaining 20 percent.

GTV has already launched in Kenya where it is expected to beam a total of up to 10 games in one weekend and the same is expected to apply in Botswana. GTV's Business Development Officer, Ronnie Andrews told the Kenyan Press over the weekend that the new channel would televise up to 10 live matches in addition to other recorded matches each week.

It is understood that GTV officials would launch in Zambia midweek before they launch in Botswana.According to the release, GTV has already launched in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and is currently proceeding with a phased roll out across Sub Saharan Africa. In the past, premiership football matches have been acquired by South Africa's DSTV which have had a monopoly on pay TV in Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa. DSTV has however retained the rights for South Africa. The Nigerians went with Hi-TV.

GTV has been founded by Julian McIntyre who is also the President of Gateway Communications.
(Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone), 14 August 2007)

Namibia: NBC Goes for One EPL Match

Having secured the rights from the English Premier League (EPL) to broadcast its elite soccer league, the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is only in a position to broadcast one live game per weekend. In addition they will broadcast delayed matches and highlights.NBC TV and its radio services will simultaneously broadcast the EPL matches.

The NBC's director general, Bob Kandetu, made the announcement on Saturday, which coincided with the start of the new 2007/2008 EPL season.Kandetu said the acquisition of rights to broadcast the matches was aimed at enhancing the quality of the NBC's service to the Namibian population.

The NBC's general manager of television services, Claudia Iikela, said the national broadcaster would not be able to fit in more than one match per weekend because it only had a single television channel and could not cancel standard programming such as news bulletins.

This means that the NBC will screen fewer than 80 matches during the season.The NBC has not yet disclosed the exact cost of the deal, but Kandetu promised that it would be communicated to the public at a later stage.There has been intense competition for the rights to televise the popular EPL matches in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

DStv, the pay television channel that has in the past provided massive coverage of the EPL through its SuperSport channels, lost out on a bid to screen 80 per cent of the EPL matches. SuperSport will only screen 20 per cent of the EPL, which amounts to two live matches each weekend.
(The Namibian (Windhoek), 15 August 2007)

Kenya: Slum Community Radio Hits the Airwaves

A five-story apartment building on the edge of Kibera recently sprouted a new antenna. It isn't much to look at - just six-feet high and dwarfed by the satellite dish beside it. But this is the wand through which the Voice of Kibera is now being broadcast to the transistor radios of a million neighbours.

Pamoja 99.9 FM quietly added its signal to the air waves two weeks ago. It joins a growing chorus of community radio stations responding to the lack of local media coverage. "Mainstream media just aren't touching on anything to do with the day-to-day aspects of life in Kibera," explains Muchiri Kioi, Pamoja's director of operations and the driving force behind the fledgeling project. He says the station will focus on issues that bear directly on its listeners: environment, women's rights, drug abuse, and community awareness, among others. "Even free funeral and wedding announcements," he adds, "things that no one here has access to at the moment. If you tune in to any other radio station, it's as though the million people living here don't exist".

Pamoja's own struggle to exist is by no means over. In the first place, they had to overcome considerable resistance from a government that perceived them as supporting the Opposition.

"The fact that we are in Raila Odinga's constituency seemed to hinder our relations with the Communications Commission of Kenya," says Kioi. Odinga is a leading opposition politician in the Orange Democratic Movement and a presidential aspirant. It took two and a half years for Pamoja to finally clear the bureaucratic hurdles set before it by the regulatory body.

"Now that we finally have permission to broadcast, we do feel entitled to some monetary support from the MP. After all, we are working hard to improve living conditions in his constituency." Thus far, he adds, Odinga has expressed verbal support but is yet to back that up financially.

Pamoja's need is demonstrated by the modesty of its headquarters. The station broadcasts from the top floor of the X9 building in Kibera's Ayany estate, but most of the rooms are bare. There is only one computer, but no soundboards, and no back-up generator in an area that suffers from regular sustained power outages, meaning the broadcast often falls silent.

What money they have managed to raise has gone to pay rent and buy the bare essentials needed to put out a signal. To save costs, the studio was hand-built by Kioi and his team of 12 Kibera youths; they soundproofed the walls with hardboard and super foam, then lined the ceiling with egg cartons. The studio is equipped with just one computer, a hand-held microphone, a single headset and an outdated sound mixer.

"We've had a very difficult time getting anyone to invest in a radio station that wasn't already up and running," he says "but how do you start up a radio station without any funds? After almost three years, we've finally managed to get off the ground - but only just. We are in dire need of donations to modernise the studio."

As a non-profit venture, Pamoja FM is legally prohibited from selling advertising, making it even more difficult to generate funds.

In the meantime, Pamoja compensates for its penury with enthusiasm. The youths are clearly thrilled at the chance to control the airwaves, and Mr Kioi relishes the opportunity to give something back to the community he grew up in.

A graduate of the University of Nairobi's Journalism School, Kioi put aside a globe-trotting career to focus on this project. He started out as a photo-journalist, working for the Kenya Times and the Daily Nation before moving to South Africa, where he spent a year freelancing for various news outlets. He subsequently moved to Oslo, Norway, reporting for Service Press, before the harsh weather brought him back to Kenya. In 1997 he became the BBC's Rift Valley correspondent, covering the democratic struggles that tore the region apart that year. When peace returned, he joined BBC's East Africa Bureau in Nairobi and moved into radio, where he stayed until 2005 when he decided to start up a station of his own.

Kioi is using his connections and experience to train the next generation of Kibera youth. Both BBC and Internews have offered to help him mentor the team he's assembled, as have a handful of seasoned independent reporters coming from Kibera.

Pamoja's young DJs range in age from 17 to 26, representing a diversity of interests and experience. They are clearly thrilled at the opportunity now before them, and dedicate long unpaid hours to the project. They meet daily with Mr Kioi to plan their individual shows and orchestrate Pamoja's overall programme. They all continue to live in the slum they grew up in, and aside from a common desire for fame and fortune they are motivated to give expression to a community that rarely speaks for itself.

"I want to use my programme to help free the people who live here from captive mind frames," says Achmed Yusuf, 22. "They have opportunities, you know, they just need to see them."

Ibrahim Husein, a lanky 26-year-old, plans to host a talk show featuring local leaders, along with radio dramas highlighting such issues as drug abuse and HIV/Aids.

Chris Oluwenyi is a 19-year-old reggae artist who will be running the station's music segment, including a "Pass-the-Mic" programme that invites local artists to perform for their own crowd. "We have some incredible talent in Kibera," he says, "but it's all underground. No one has an outlet for their music. If we go to one of the bigger stations with a new song, they don't even look at us. But with Pamoja FM, local artists will have a chance to get their voices out."

Hadija Ahmed is a 22-year-old passionate about the environment, a pressing concern in a region famous for its flying toilets and garbage heaps. "We have to sensitise the people," she says, "because solutions exist for them right here - they can improve their own environment without waiting for help, but a lot of them just don't know how."

Pamoja FM itself is setting a fine example, having started life as a youth development centre four years ago. When Mr Kioi and his team first started thinking about ways to expand, they initially struck upon the idea of a community newspaper.

"But not many people in Kibera would ever buy a newspaper," he says, "and more importantly, there are many here who can't read."

Kioi describes the new radio station as the original Pamoja Development Centre's "daughter," asserting that the essential mission of helping Kiberans to help themselves remains unchanged - only the tactics have evolved. "We've got a wider network now," he says, "we've broadened our wings. But we're still Pamoja, still trying to bring Kiberans together."
(The Nation (Nairobi), 18 August 2007)

Distribution

Liberia: DSTV Reduces Subscription Fees

Consolidated Group, the service provider of DSTV in Liberia has announced a reduction in its services with the aim of making DSTV available to all. The General Manager of Consolidated Group, Emma Harris, said the new measure is intended to encourage customers to subscribe with the corporation and have DSTV services at the disposal of most people.

Speaking at a program held to give out prizes to winners of DSTV raffle draw held for the month of July, 2007, Madam Harris said as part of the new measures, a customer can pay for their services monthly instead of waiting after a period of three months, which is four times payment on a quarterly basis.

Madam Harris said among the new services, which is being reduced is the DSTV family. She said this service consist of 20 channels and provides hundreds of programs and thousand of stars, with a monthly subscription fee of US$22.00.

According to a DSTV bouquet issued at the end of the program, the complete set/90cm dish for this US$22.00 subscription costs US$290.00 for installation and one- month subscription for the complete set/90 cm dish. Other services, which now have reduced prices are the DSTV compact and the DSTV Single View.

According to Madam Harris, more on making the services available to all is expected in the not too distant future. During the ceremony, 20 subscribers of DSTV, walked away with prizes won during the July 2007 raffle draw. Among some of the winners were banking institutions, companies and some private individuals.
(The Inquirer (Monrovia), 11 August 2007)

Namibia: DSTV Feels Wrath of Soccer Fans

Thousands of Namibian football fans were left frustrated at the weekend after DStv failed to screen most of the English Premier League (EPL) matches on its SuperSport channels. Angry football fans on Saturday even confronted MultiChoice Namibia's General Manager, Kobus Bezuidenhout, at his Eros-based office to vent their frustrations about the lack of EPL coverage.

Most expressed dissatisfaction at the failure of MultiChoice Namibia to inform them in advance about their inability to screen the matches, which are hugely popular and keenly followed by Namibian viewers. When asked for comment, Bezuidenhout told The Namibian that SuperSport will only be able to screen 20 per cent of the over 300 matches played in that league this season - which amounts to 84 matches.

He said no single pay television channel in sub-Saharan Africa will be able to screen all the premiership games. According to Bezuidenhout, the premiership television rights for this season were tiered into three packages - 80 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent of the matches.

Gateway Television (GTV), based in the United Kingdom, secured the 80 per cent package, but only broadcasts in three African countries - Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

He said SuperSport had to tender for the broadcasting rights, but GTV outbid them and they had to be satisfied with the 20 per cent stake. Bezuidenhout said SuperSport put in a bid four times higher than their previous bid, but he estimates that GTV paid six times what SuperSport paid previously.

He said SuperSport will show several other leagues such as the French, Spanish, Portuguese and South African leagues. When asked which particular EPL matches, Bezuidenhout said the English Premiership was handling the matches and SuperSport would show what was offered to them.

This means there will only be one match on Saturdays and another on Sundays, and SuperSport will not have a say in which matches they can screen.

"Unfortunately the situation is out of our hands, but it will only be fair if people understand our predicament," he said. Asked why South Africa received the full EPL package, Bezuidenhout said the Premier League had split the African broadcasting rights into two regions - South Africa and the rest of Africa.

SuperSport's bid for the South African rights was unopposed and it will be able to broadcast all the matches there. Bezuidenhout said viewers were informed of the new development via DStv newsletters and electronic mail messages sent to the decoders of subscribers.

The message apparently did not reach all subscribers, he said. Bezuidenhout said some viewers might cancel their DStv subscriptions, but by yesterday there had been no disconnections.

"I understand the frustrations of people and that a lot of them are ardent EPL followers, but I think there are a lot of other channels that we offer besides football," he said. The Namibian was flooded with calls on Saturday, while others sent messages to our SMS service.
(The Namibian (Windhoek), 13 August 2007)

Uganda: GTV, Fufa Deal Operational Oct. 15

GTV's sh8.4b sponsorship of Uganda's soccer governing body Fufa takes effect from October 15, with the respective stakeholders receiving their first cash installments. But this will come after a meeting between the football body and stakeholders to chart out the deal's implementation.

The Fufa executive meet over the weekend in Jinja will review the new league rules in line with the GTV deal ahead of the players' transfer exercise that runs from next Thursday until Nov. 3.

The league fixtures will be released September 20, a month ahead of the kick-off.

GTV unveiled the deal a fortnight ago, which will see them inject sh8.4b in local soccer for the next five years in exchange for marketing and media rights of the local league. They also bought the rights for the national team home games.

"We will meet stakeholders and brainstorm a way forward ahead of the release of the fixtures," said Fufa marketing committee official Dennis Mbidde. The contract, which will see GTV televise at least two matches per club, will see each club get $20,000 (sh38m) for administration, while the federation will get $70,000 (sh119m) every year. The money will be given in four equal installments. There will also be prize money for clubs, top scorer, best manager and best player, among others.

Meanwhile, the highest turn-up in the just-concluded Super league was the Iganga-Villa match at Saza ground that sold 1152 tickets.
(New Vision (Kampala), 16 August 2007)

Investment

Africa: Telkom signs R225m 2010 Deal with Fifa

The deal for Telkom to provide fixed-line connectivity for the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament has finally received FIFA's public stamp of approval.

Yesterday, Telkom signed the deal to become a "National Supporter of the 2010 FIFA World Cup". The contract, worth R225 million, was signed at a ceremony in Nasrec, south of Johannesburg.

The agreement requires Telkom to provide FIFA with the fixed-line network infrastructure to support the broadcast of the 2010 event. The
R225 million will be put out by government as part of its estimated R5 billion technology budget for the World Cup.

"This encompasses the provisioning of fixed-line telecommunications-related products and services and, where applicable, the services of qualified personnel necessary for the planning, management, delivery, installation (and de-installation), operation, maintenance and satisfactory functioning of these products and services," says Telkom in a media statement.

In essence, Telkom will enable the interconnection of important event venues, including the 10 FIFA World Cup stadiums, broadcast compounds, media centres, the International Broadcast Centre and FIFA headquarter locations.

As a National Supporter of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Telkom gains a package of advertising, promotional and marketing rights that are exercisable within the borders of SA. "Telkom chose this level of sponsorship because its dominant customer base is within the country,"
says Telkom acting CEO Reuben September.
(Source: ITWeb)

Rwanda: Chinese Invest Big Into IT and TV in Rwanda

A Chinese based company has officially launched a subsidiary in Rwanda to provide digital Pay-TV and broadband Internet services. The locally registered Star Africa Media Co. Ltd is a subsidiary of the Star Communication Network Technology Co. Ltd based in the capital Beijing.

During the launching ceremony at the Kigali Serena Hotel recently, the CEO and chairman of the company Xinxing Pang said the company wanted to construct a wireless digital Pay-TV station based on Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T) and a laid down broadband cable in Kigali.

"Construction work of a Pay -TV station will be completed at the end of this year. This is the first phase of the project," Pang said, adding that the second phase that will see the broadband system in place will commence in the first quarter of 2008.

"We are going to provide internet to the people in Kigali first and they shall be accessing it using their mobile phones," Pang revealed.

If the Rwanda model project succeeds, Pang said the next move would be to move into the neighbouring countries.

The Chinese ambassador to Rwanda Mr. De'en Qi, who was at the ceremony said it was the first investment of such magnitude from China to Rwanda.

"This is a boost to ICT development as well as growth of the Rwanda national economy," Qi said.

The connection of voice, data and video services will be carried out simultaneously and made possible with the broadband cable system.

"The vision of Star Communication Network Technology is to make sure every Rwandan can access wireless digital Pay-TV and Internet services.
We hope that with the support of the Rwanda government, Star Africa Media will be accessed," Pang told guests.

Rwanda's foreign affairs minister and chief guest, Mr. Charles Murigande said that the investment showed China's commitment to strengthen co-operation between the two countries.

Star Communication's entry into Rwanda follows President Paul Kagame's official visit to China about two months ago.
(Source: East African Business Week)

More

Regulation & policy

Comoros: Broadcast Journalists Prevented From Travelling to Separatist Island

Journalists in Africa's Comoros islands say they were prevented from traveling to the separatist island of Anjouan to cover Independence Day celebrations Friday. Local reporters say travel agencies refused to sell them airline tickets.

Editor Ibrahim Ali Saïd Félix and cameraman Ismael Kassim of Djabal Télévision, a private station based on the main volcanic island of Grande Comore, were unable to board a flight to Anjouan after travel agencies refused to sell them tickets until Monday, Djabal TV director Mmadi Moindjié told CPJ. Moindjié and Félix allege that Comores Aviation and Air Service Comores, two private travel agencies that exclusively provide inter-island trips from the capital, Moroni, linked the move to government pressure in connection with Djabal TV's coverage of Anjouan authorities.

Djabal TV had been the only media to report from Anjouan since Col. Mohamed Bacar proclaimed himself president in June. The Comoros' national government does not officially recognize him, local journalists told CPJ. The station's coverage was dominated by daily interviews of Anjouan leaders and opposition figures, they said.

"Allegations of government interference in the work of the press need to be vigorously investigated," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon.

Police had already detained Félix on July 14 for 10 hours in a separate incident when he returned to Moroni's airport from a reporting trip on Anjouan. They questioned the journalist about his alleged links to the Anjouan leadership, according to news reports.

In a telephone interview with CPJ, Comoros government spokesman Abdourahim Saïd Bacar denied any personal knowledge of the matter, saying that Djabal TV could travel and broadcast freely. But he accused the station, based in Iconi, southwest of Moroni, of "in some ways inciting hatred and rebellion within the population by constantly interviewing anyone opposed to the government."

The presidential chief of staff in charge of national defense, Mohamed Dossar, also denied the allegations, but accused the station of being "the 'Radio Télévision Libre des Milles Collines' of the Comoros" - the station that incited genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Dossar said that while the station's programs had not caused any violence or deaths, they were "fueling inter-insular tensions."

Located between Mozambique and Madagascar, the three-island Comoros archipelago has suffered 19 coups or attempted coups since it gained independence from France in 1975. In 1997, Anjouan seceded from the Union of Comoros, but returned to the federation under a 2001 accord that granted each island its own government and president.
(Committee to Protect Journalists (New York), 7 August 2007)

Congo: Two State TV Journalists Released After Fifteen Days in Detention

Vincent Hata Mawika and Michel Shango Mpanya, journalists and union activists with state-owned Radio-Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC) were released on 11 August 2007 at around 1:00 p.m. (local time) by the Kinshasa/Gombe High Court prosecutor on payment of US$120 bail each.

The journalists' release follows a request presented by the journalists' lawyer who, in a letter addressed to the public prosecutor on 8 August 2007, had deplored the fact that the arrest of the journalists happened prior to the actions for which they were accused. The journalists were arrested on 26 July, whereas the actions for which they were prosecuted took place on 27 July. This arrest appeared as "a form of intimidation to impose the law of silence within the RTNC", the lawyer said.

Hata and Shango were arrested on 26 July by agents of the Republican Guard on the orders of RTNC General Manager Kipolongo Mukambilwa. On 28 July, they were transferred to the headquarters of the Directorate for General Intelligence and Special Services (DRGS), after shortly being held at the Colonel Tshatshi military camp. The journalists were charged with "publicly insulting the president, trying to destabilise RTNC and discrediting the government by launching a strike and attempting to organise a union meeting despite the administrator's objections." They were called before the prosecutor on 8 August.

Eugène Risasi Tambwe, another journalist and union activist arrested on 27 July, was released on 31 July.
(Journaliste En Danger (Kinshasa), 14 August 2007)

Somalia: Radio Warsan Back On Air After Govt. Officials Closed It Down

Government officials in Baidoa, a farming town in southern Somalia, closed down the independent FM station (Radio Warsan) on Tuesday. The C.E.O of Radio Warsan, Abdifitah Gesey, told Shabelle by phone from Baidoa that the radio station was raided by government troops that forcefully entered the main studio. He said their voices could be heard as the studio was on air at the time.

Gesey said he did not know why the station was closed, indicating that it was the seventh time of closure since the Somali transitional government moved to Baidoa more a year ago. However, the radio station was back on air on Wednesday, but one its reporters, Hilal Sheik Shueyb, was still in jail. Gesey said he was trying to find out why the journalist has been detained.
(Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu), 15 August 2007)

Somalia: Two journalists killed in Mogadishu

Two Somali journalists have been killed in the capital Mogadishu in separate attacks within hours of each other. The owner of HornAfrik radio and television, Ali Iman Sharmake, died when his car exploded after apparently running over a landmine. He had just been to the funeral of one of his leading radio presenters, Mahad Ahmed Elmi, shot dead hours earlier. Praising his colleague hours before his own death, Ali Iman Sharmake said: "Elmi was a symbol of neutrality."

Colleagues said Elmi was shot dead by two gunmen close to the radio station on his way to work. Sharmake was hit by what appeared to be a remote-controlled landmine on his way home from Elmi's funeral. Reuters reporter Sahal Abdulle, who was sitting next to him, was lightly injured.

It is unclear who was responsible for the attacks. Sharmake said in his tribute to Elmi, quoted by the Associated Press: "The killing was meant to prevent a real voice that described the suffering in Mogadishu to other Somalis and to the world."

HornAfrik - which also relays BBC Somali service programmes - prides itself on its journalistic independence, and its broadcasts have in the past angered both the government and Islamist opposition. A number of local and foreign journalists have been killed in recent years.

Mogadishu has been the scene for months of skirmishes between troops supporting the transitional government and both clan-based and Islamist insurgents.
[BBC]

Technology & convergence

Nigeria: DSTV launches Mobile TV

An interview in Biz.com claims that DStv will be launching mobile TV using DVBH in Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos.

The DVB-H service has been in pilot trials in South Africa since November 2005 with mobile provider MTN. A DVB-H-enabled phone was being passed around at the Africa Media and Broadcasting 2006 conference and the picture was pin-sharp and the sound very clear. And clear enough to see a football in play.

In her conference presentation, CEO of DSTV's M-Mobile subsidiary, Linda Vermaas said that 5-6 serious players were likely to emerge once the service went commercial. Handsets needed to be 3G and DVB-H enabled: MTN was promoting the Samsung P910 for use with this service. Transmission by DVB-H gives between 12-23 channels depending on the graphic complexity of what's being transmitted. The trial involves several thousand subscribers.

She said that while there was room for "made for mobile" content, the majority of the test material was either existing TV content or reversioned TV content. She seemed sceptical that advertising would make much of a financial contribution.

South Africa: Integrate Digital in Every Agency Strategy

The digital era is creating a massive buzz in global advertising and marketing circles, but how many are actually making headway into this new arena? Melanie Walter, media director of Starcom South Africa reports back from the Starcom Berlin Digital conference, which was designed to launch the Starcom network's digital future across Europe, Middle East and Africa by finding ways to translate the digital talk into effective action with a clear business plan in place.

Last year Starcom defined its focus as 'Connections that Captivate' (CTC) and to fulfill this promise in the changing consumer world, the network simply has to address the digital issue. Starcom has elected to integrate digital throughout the network, rather than create a separate division.

"Clients will be able to talk to their usual Starcom contact person about communications that include a digital strategy," explains Walter. "And it goes beyond merely honing our individual digital expertise. Starcom's goal is to create a digitally empowered organisation, from top to bottom."

The key areas in which Starcom wants to boost its capabilities are: broadband, search, messaging, data analytics and mobile.

Homing in on the media truths about the importance of digital, Starcom organised a line-up of speakers from a variety of digital frontrunners including Facebook, Joost and Google and trend experts such as futurologist James Bellini and analyst Nate Elliot from Jupiter Research.

According to Bellini clients are working on ideas that are 15 years out of date. "In 1965 there were 10 000 people for every computer, by 2015 there will be 10 000 connected devices for every person," he told the Starcom grouping of 130 senior agency executives.

Elliot highlighted the trends in broadband, online and on-demand consumption, saying that online really took off with the introduction of broadband and the uptake in online video had happened much faster than any predictions.

The Joost and Facebook presentations provided an understanding of just how things are changing and the scale of growth. "Both urged creativity when asked how to use them," reported Walter.

"Don't just slap a social onto the end of your plan," Mike Murphy, vice president: media sales at Facebook told the delegates in turn: "Create a connection, spread it virally and then collect the insights from the back end."

Henrique de Castro, director of Google's European operations advised Starcom to up its share of the search market. "Focus on a few key clients in each market to track developments and get it right rather than be abstract about its capabilities," he reiterated.

Within the Berlin Digital theme was the message 'Be Digital'. It is deliberately a mandate for all Starcom offices who are all expected to show clear signs of implementation within the next three months. Bringing this message home to South Africa, Walter urged the local staff to view themselves as 'dynamic content managers' rather than media planners. "Young strategists should hold the key. They are the new creatives in the digital world," she relayed.

According to Walter the immediate challenges facing the local market are understanding the implications of user generated content and coming to terms with how to optimise social networking.
(Biz-Community (Cape Town), 12 August 2007)

Events

* People to People - Documentary Conference event

13th-15th September, Atlas Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa

The high profile and well established festivals, the 3 Continents Film Festival and the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, together with the Southern Africa Communications for Development (Sacod), a long standing network of industry practitioners from 11 southern African countries, are the joint initiators of the conference. The conference takes forward the work of our respective organisations to fulfill the critical role of documentary film in the South.
For furhter information contact Lavinia Jonasi, Conference Administrator on +27 (0)76 909 or by email at info@sacod.org.za

*23rd Alexandria International Film Festival

7th-11th September 2007, Alexandria, Egypt

Organised by the Egyptian Association of Film Writers and Critics, the Alexandria Film Festival aims to broaden film culture and strenghthen the relationships between filmmakers throughout the world.
For further information visit the film's website at www.alexfilmfest.com

* Sacomm Conference 2007
19-21st September 2007, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
As a developing continent, Africa is faced with a multitude of general communication challenges. The objectives of this conference are to discuss communication challenges within the African context.
For further information visit http://www.uovs.ac.za/sacomm

* Africa Broadcasting and Media Congress 2007

29 October - 2 November 2007 - Johannesburg, South Africa

The Africa Broadcasting and Media Congress is committed to improving technology, service and ROI in this rapidly evolving African market. Bringing together leading companies with senior decision makers and helping to drive African broadcasting and media into the 21st century and beyond.

By popular demand the Africa Media and Broadcasting Congress 2007 is proud to add an extra IPTV masterclass to the event. This separately bookable day will provide you with some essential insight into IPTV as well as its potential for the African continent.

For more information please visit www.terrapinn.com/2007/mediaza or contact Evashnee Pillay, Marketing Manager on +27 11 516 4016 or at evashnee.pillay@terrapinn.co.za

* IPTV World Forum Middle East&Africa
5-6 November 2007, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai
The conference will focus on delivering multi-platform television over IP.
For further information visit http://www.iptv-mea.com/

People

Uganda: Senkwale Replaces Mungoma At DStv

They have spent a couple of months without a sales and marketing manager after Peter Mungoma defected to new rival company GTV. Finally, Multichoice Uganda, the distributors of DStv have found an able replacement in Richard Sebahiima Senkwale.

Senkwale, who holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing) degree from New Port International University, a Higher Diploma in Marketing from Nkumba University and is a member of Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), was wooed from dfcu where he has been the Retail Sales Manager. Senkwale, who started out as a sales executive for SHARP Electronics Technology has had stints as sales and marketing manager for both TOP radio and Monitor Publications.

He joins the pay TV company at a time when the company, for the first time in its over 10 years of operation in Uganda, is facing stiff competition from another service provider. Hard luck Senkwale.
(New Vision (Kampala), 17 August 2007)

South Africa: Icasa Appoints New Chief

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has finally appointed a new CEO after the previous head left midway through an internal investigation into her conduct last year.

The new CEO, Karabo Motlana, will take up the job from September 3. In a short statement yesterday Icasa said: "The authority looks forward to working with him and believes he will be of assistance in meeting the challenges that lie ahead and fulfilling its mandate."

Icasa regulates the telecommunications, broadcasting and postal sectors. It is notoriously understaffed, underskilled and underfunded.

Icasa chairman Paris Mashile has often complained that its best employees are routinely poached by the private sector, particularly by the high-paying cellphone operators.

Icasa began this year with 17 high-level vacancies.

For once Icasa is getting its own back, and has drawn Motlana from Cell C, where he is the head of regulatory affairs. Motlana previously worked in Telkom's regulatory and government affairs department.

Mashile could not be reached for comment on the new appointment yesterday.

Former CEO Jackie Manche quit the job midway through an inquiry into alleged breaches of the Public Finance Management Act and the Icasa Act. She had been suspended on full pay for 10 months before resuming her duties, then left during the Christmas holidays. The inquiry was quietly shelved without a verdict, as Icasa said there was no need to continue the probe once Manche had resigned.

Yesterday Democratic Alliance spokeswoman for telecommunications, Dene Smuts, said she hoped Icasa had appointed someone who understood the body's tasks and his role in the organisation.
(Business Day (Johannesburg), 15 August 2007

Letter

Dear Balancing Act News,

I've been following your stories on DSTV Select. This is a great package at a good price. This is if you could get connected. I subscribed to Option 2 and they connected me on the 14 June and I don't think I would have been connected if it were not for the help of dedicated DSTV staff, I believe the system since changed, DSTV can't do much to get your account activated.

I since subscribed to Option 1 even returned the decoder yesterday. But went to fetch it today again and decided, I want this product, Vodacom advertises it and it must be connected somehow, sometime.

I read on hellopeter.com about a man that's now waiting for a month and it doesn't help to write to Vodacom they apologizes tell you that your problem receives priority attention at Head office and this is where it ends they just don't come back to you. If you phone customer service then it take more that a hour and you get through to a consultant who asks you for your smartcard number.

It's all good that you keep us updated with new development in the Entertainment Industry but if you do some research you will see the problems we as subscribers have to endure when we subscribe to DSTV Select and how long it takes to get activated.

David Hattingh
South Africa

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