Los Angeles, 1 June 2012 -- Basic Lead, organisers of the annual DISCOP AFRICA film and television content market, announced today that they will subsidise the attendance of up to 100 international content buyers at the Johannesburg event. Acquisitions executives who are interested in the increasing range of good quality content and formats created in Africa will be targeted.
The initiative is driven by recent TV consumption trends which indicate that a growing number of television operators around the world are acquiring programming from the region. Shows with particular interest are South African documentaries, Nigerian films, Kenyan soap-operas, Burkinese series, Uganda game shows as well as other “made in Africa” content which continues to gain new viewers and subscribers.
In partnership with Tourism Gauteng's Convention Bureau, eligible programming and acquisitions executives representing international public and private broadcasters will be invited to attend DISCOP AFRICA 2012, which takes place from 31 October to 2 November 2012 at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg.
With three national umbrellas for up-and-coming content producers from Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria; a co-production forum centered on French-speaking African programs; a pitching contest for low-cost formats; cross-border comedy concepts and a training program fostering closer co-operation amongst regional and international key players, DISCOP AFRICA 2012 will be the strongest ever gathering of film and television content producers and distributors representing Africa’s multicultural television market. DISCOP AFRICA 2012 is also expected to welcome content buyers representing African broadcasters, thematic channels, pay-TV and on-demand platforms, mobile, broadband and closed circuit networks and alternative content distribution platforms. The event will also have a wide spectrum of attendees involved in the development, funding, production, programming, branding, marketing and licensing of content across all distribution platforms in Africa.
“African television has undergone a huge renaissance, far outpacing the traditional production formulas that the rest of the world falls back on so much, providing a fresh antidote to more mainstream television,” says Patrick Jucaud-Zuchowicki, General Manager of Basic Lead. He added: “DISCOP AFRICA is on track to showcase the very best African content, produced in what has become one of the world’s most compelling multiplatform content production centres.”
Nonnie Kubeka, Marketing Manager at Tourism Gauteng's Convention Bureau, added: “We are very pleased to support DISCOP Africa in encouraging international buyers to seek out African programming for their own networks. Our mission is to cultivate and facilitate an environment that allows the film and television industry to play a meaningful role in the socio-economic development of the region. Showcasing these ideas and themes, together with the production knowledge and creativity present locally at DISCOP Africa will be an invaluable opportunity to enhance international awareness of the strong multiplatform content originating in Africa”.
Global TV companies increasingly involved in Africa and exhibiting at the three-day event include BBC Worldwide, Canal+ Overseas, Caracol, CCTV, Cote Ouest, Endemol South-Africa, Fox International Channels, France 24, Globo TV, IMC, IMG, M-Net, MGM Networks, Mondo TV, Nollywood Worldwide Entertainment, Octagon, Optima Sports, Telemundo, Televisa, Thema, Trend TV, TV Azteca, TV5 Monde, UFA TV, Venevision, Zee TV and many others.
|