Nairobi to host first African Broadcast and Film Conference

Just under half of the countries in Africa have liberalised their broadcast markets and there has been a considerable growth in the number of new television and radio stations. The final opening up by the rest of the countries on the continent promises the kind of growth that the mobile market has experienced over the next five years.

Whereas broadcast media used to be simply a small number of TV and radio channels, there is now a proliferation of ways in which broadcast programming can be received by its audiences including satellite, IP-TV, PC and mobile. Taken together, the number of channels and the many different ways of receiving programming has begun to fragment the traditional market. African broadcasters need to find new ways to sustain their audiences and attract new advertising.

African government broadcasters are particularly threatened by the new media landscape. Largely without funding they have to deliver public service obligations like coverage and at the same time, compete ever more fiercely in the market for premium rights, audiences and advertisers.

Similarly, Africa's film industry needs to rise to the challenge of meeting the increased demand for content by the broadcasters, while at the same time improving production and content standards. Although attracting increased business as a filming destination, Africa has a long way to go in terms of developing indigenous filming facilities, expertise and structures.

The 1st African Broadcast, Film and Convergence Conference in Nairobi scheduled for September 2008 will bring together senior broadcast and film executives, producers, advertising agency executives, regulators and policy-makers to discuss the challenges faced by the industry over the next five years.

The conference is hosted by AITEC Africa in partnership with Balancing Act.

For information on the conference agenda and registration, go to www.aitecafrica.com.