SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
MultiChoice sub-Saharan Africa experienced strong growth despite the loss of certain rights and the entry of competitors. The subscriber base grew by 68 000 households for the year, primarily in Nigeria and Angola. Lower-priced bouquets – DStv Family and DStv Compact –
reached 162 000 households.
The focus on localising programming on the continent continued during the past year. With the addition of channels from Kenya and Angola, the total number of public and commercial channels carried on the DStv service increased to 19. M-Net split its East and West African feeds, and introduced separate channels for M-Net Series and Channel O. The popular AfricaMagic channel was extended to 24 hours. M-Net also supplemented its portfolio of local content with the hit productions Big Brother Africa, Idols East Africa and Deal or No Deal. It commissioned a new Nigerian soap opera, Tinsel, and an East African drama series.
SuperSport customised the sub-Saharan Africa soccer channels. It signed up rights for the Nigerian, Kenyan and Zambian football leagues, as well as for the top three Angolan teams, to enhance African football coverage. The addition of the Spanish La Liga, French and Italian soccer leagues, together with the Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool clubs’ channels, improved the soccer offering. SuperSport screened the Euro 2008 competition and will screen the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. However, the entry of new competitors on the continent has increased costs.
 |
|
|
| 162 |
|
thousand households enjoy the DStv Family and DStv Compact bouquets |
New channels were added to the DStv service. They include One Gospel, The Style Network, Trace TV, M-Net Stars, Nat Geo Wild, Sony Entertainment Television, Animax, MagicWorld and Inspirations TV. On the Portuguese bouquet, AXN and E! Entertainment were added.
Corporate social investment remained focused on education. Some 350 MultiChoice Resource Centres provided educational television to learners and helped trained teachers. These centres are managed in partnership with governments as well as with the Nepad e-schools commission.
The regulatory environment across Africa remains uncertain, with changes to existing legislation and new broadcasting bills and regulations being developed in a number of countries. There is also a focus on digital migration by some African governments.
|
|
|
| 350 |
|
MultiChoice Resource Centres provide
educational television |
|
