The future of television is at DISCOP Africa

With the ninth edition set to take place from 5-7 November, 2014, at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, DISCOP Africa 2014 promises to be the largest gathering for anyone interested in content, film, TV programming, adaptation rights and packaged channels market opportunities.

2000+ delegates from 70 countries are expected to converge on the event, including 250+ exhibitors representing global and regional entertainment content providers from Africa and overseas; 750+ key acquisitions, commissioning and programming executives representing Africa's most important public and commercial broadcasters, pay-TV operators, OTT platforms, mobile networks and production companies; and national umbrella exhibitions representing firms from South Africa, USA, Ivory Coast, the European Union, Kenya, China, Korea, France and Israel.

DISCOP Africa 2014 is also proud of its many strategic partnerships, with the most recent including some of South Africa's major players in the film and TV industry such as the Department of Arts and Culture, The National Film and Video Foundation, The Gauteng Film Commission and the SABC.

A host of parallel events will also take place during the event. These include:

The Cote d'Ivoire celebrations

DISCOP Africa 2014's Guest Country will be Ivory Coast, a country set to play a key-role in the development of television content production and distribution across Africa. The celebration is organised in partnership with RTI, Ivory Coast's public broadcaster, ONACI, the country's leading funding institution for film and TV content, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Communications and the Ivory Coast Government, and marks a growing number of other predominantly French speaking African countries represented at the market by broadcasters, emerging platforms and content producers. A national pavilion will be set up to ensure maximum visibility for Ivory Coast as an attractive regional and international television content coproduction partner. The celebration will also includes a gala reception in the presence of Affoussiata Bamba Lamine, Ivory Coast's Minister of Communication, screen talent, industry leaders and other representatives.

The "20 Years of television in South Africa: What's next" conference

This two-day conference will examine the challenges to develop a sustainable and homegrown digital television ecosystem and bring together governmental representatives and key experts to tackle the obstacles lying ahead for this industry to foster multimedia creativity, enable entrepreneurship, promote social engagement and attract international investments, while at the same time provide employment, generate export revenues, and serve as a role model for other African countries.

The Black Legacy gala evening

Honouring the spirit, drive and creativity of half century of African American television pop culture, a special gala evening will also include an award ceremony to salute the achievements of a selected media entrepreneur, who during his / her lifetime has made creative contributions of outstanding significance to the global entertainment business.

DISCOPRO: Pitching, mentoring and networking program

Launched in 2012, and specifically tailored for established and up-and-coming TV content producers seeking assistance to bring their projects to full completion, the 3-day DISCOPRO pitching, mentoring and networking program delivers intelligence, resources and contacts. The program is engineered to assist in navigating the contours of independent TV content development, co-production and distribution across Africa. Producers are provided with a parallel agenda that includes the following benefits:

• Mentoring workshops: Two parallel tracks of 90-minute workshops will be lead by experts in the fields of development, production, distribution and marketing. All workshops will be video recorded and made available online, in English and French.
  
• Pitching competitions: Producers will be invited to enter one, or several of the four TV Series / Formats / Animation / Documentaries pitching competitions. A panel of renowned commissioning and creative television executives seeking fresh talent will
  choose one winner and one runner-up to receive cash prizes. The audience also votes on its favourite pitch for each category. An award ceremony will take place at the end of the pitching day in the presence of influential VIP Guests involved in television content development, production and distribution.
  
• Access to the marketplace: Producers seeking co-production and distribution partners will be able to access advance and onsite meetings organization services, with meetings to take place in a dedicated area furnished with individual tables and available for
  30-minute meetings.

20 Years of Television In South Africa Conference - Highlights

This interactive and expert hosted conference will explore some of the main trends that have affected and driven television programming, viewing and content trends over the past 20 yeas in South Africa as well as the rest of the continent. The conference will also explore the future of television and digital broadcasting across Africa. Highlights of the conference will include:

From YouTube to the big screen

This two-part series will pay a tribute to creators behind highly acclaimed TV shows that got their start on YouTube. The first part will welcome Nicole Amarteifio, The Creator Of An African City, a fun and trendy web series set in Ghana and focusing on five glamorous young women who've returned to Accra after living abroad for years. Fans describe the series as the African version of "Sex and the City". Following record-breaking online success, the show has been picked up by CANAL + who will soon turn the web series into an
episodic television show.

Digital migration

Bringing together some of Africa's established and fast emerging Pay-tv platforms, this panel discussion will examine and confront opinions on the main content production and distribution-related obstacles laying ahead of a full digital switchover process that is meant to be completed by 17 June 2015.

Homegrown sports content

Homegrown, televised, sports entertainment is largely under-developed in Africa despite an overwhelming number of sports fans, multiple video and radio content distribution platforms, and a vast pool of sports stars with global recognition. This session will examine ways to establish a sustainable, homegrown, televised sports entertainment industry that could inject much-needed revenues into local content production sectors, create new jobs and generate international licensing income.

Mobile loves TV

South Africa's mobile operators are holding talks with a host of large entertainment content companies as they look to diversify their offerings. This panel discussion will look at reasons to encourage partnerships between content producers and mobile operators as
on-demand video services are increasingly being sought.

French-speaking Africa rising

French speaking Africa is on course to play a key-role in the development of television content production and distribution business across Africa. In a context where co-production is the keyword, this session will invite major international TV content production and distribution companies involved in Africa to express their views on a growing number of co-production opportunities arising from predominantly French-speaking African countries.

Close-up on Nigeria

Like all other African countries, Nigeria is in the process of getting ready to meet the 2015 digital migration and is faced with monumental challenges involved in a smooth transition. This presentation will draw a clear picture of where Africa's most populated

country stands and what lessons can be learned in a process that involves manufacturing and importation of set-up boxes, public awareness, change in laws and regulations if need be, determination of standards, as well as streamlining issues bordering on content development and production.

For more, go to www.discopafrica.com or the Facebook page.