All posts by John Winfield

South African crime doc set for Showmax

Thea Pretorius in Original Sin: My Son the Killer 

African streaming service Showmax has unveiled a crime feature documentary titled Original Sin: My Son the Killer.

Original Sin is a coproduction between Showmax, Bafta-winning UK prodco Rogan Productions and Electric Shadow Company in association with Red Earth and Combined Artists. The latter is the South African prodco behind the iconic investigative journalism show Carte Blanche and the Safta-nominated true crime series Strangers You Know.

The doc tells the story of South African killer Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who murdered his 25-year-old girlfriend Andrea Venter in front of her neighbours, security guards and CCTV cameras.

He then escaped authorities in South Africa and Brazil for years, assuming three identities and starting families with multiple women.

The story is told from the perspective of van Vuuren’s mother, Thea Pretorius, who was also a victim of gender-based violence. After initially helping him escape, Pretorius slowly had to come to terms with her son being a killer.

The doc’s director John Gutierrez said: “Every 63 seconds a woman becomes a victim of gender-based violence in South Africa. Before Andrea was murdered, she was hunted by Gerhard. She did everything that could be expected of her, including filing a restraining order and moving cities, but it wasn’t enough.

“Thea’s perspective is central. She’s asking herself how her little boy with a gentle spirit became a murderer, and what her responsibility is. Thea is both Gerhard’s mother and a survivor of gender-based violence herself, so she’s deeply conflicted.”

Original Sin is produced by South African Sarah Laita and Jay Taylor from Electric Shadow Company, and Mark Hedgecoe and James Rogan from Rogan Productions, while Jana Marx (Devilsdorp) serves as the editorial producer. Abacus Media Rights is in charge of handling international sales.

Laita said: “As a South African now living in London, this story is close to my heart. I was back in South Africa in 2020 during one of the lockdowns when I first heard about this story and was captivated by it. Beyond all its twists and turns, it’s a deeply moving family drama that shows how gender-based violence and femicide continue to be a deep problem not only in South Africa but around the world.”

Hedgecoe added: “Original Sin is a story that works on two levels. On the one hand it is the compelling account of a resourceful and clever murderer going on the run, and the authorities’ urgent efforts to track him down. But it also gives powerful insight into the many women who were his victims – most obviously Andrea, who he killed, but also his mother, Thea. It’s this that gives the story real depth.”

The doc premieres on MultiChoice- and NBCUniversal-owned streamer Showmax on March 22.

tagged in: , ,

Moshe Ndiki to host Ready Steady Cook SA

South African television presenter Moshe Ndiki is set to host cooking competition show Ready Steady Cook South Africa for public broadcaster SABC.

Moshe Ndiki

Ready Steady Cook South Africa is a collaboration between Primedia Studios and production company Rose & Oaks Media. It is based on the long-running BBC show that is distributed worldwide by Banijay.

The 260-episode SABC commission will consist of two competing teams, with a South African chef on each side paired with enthusiastic home cooks ready to challenge their creativity with a mystery bag of everyday ingredients in a 20-minute cook-off.

Anele Mdoda, co-owner of Rose & Oaks Media, said: “Our new local version of Ready Steady Cook is like a paella or a potjie of everything that makes for good television. While the dramatic battle between Team Red Tomato and Team Green Pepper is packed with suspense, it’s also sprinkled with star power and non-stop fun.

“We’re thrilled to have Moshe as the on-screen coordinator of all the magic and madness cooked up by the two competing teams on Ready Steady Cook South Africa. Moshe is the perfect balance of sugar, salt, flavour and heat… funnily enough, everything you need to make a stellar dish.”

Popular chefs that will feature in the show include Wandile Mabaso, Neo Nontso, Fehmida Osman-Latib, Kamini Pather, Kelly Njokweni, Liziwe Matloha, Lorna Maseko, Lufuno Sinthumule, Mmule Setati and Nthi Ramaboa.

They will be tasked to create three mouthwatering dishes with the food items brought along by their Team Red Tomato or Team Green Pepper partner within 20 minutes. Once the time runs out, the studio audience votes to determine the episode’s winning team.

Ready Steady Cook South Africa will air on SABC3 from March 18.

tagged in: , ,

BET Africa preps drama Queendom

L-R: Queendom’s Samkelo Ndlovu, Nhlanhla Kunene, Linda Mtoba and Sindi Dlathu

Paramount Global-owned channel BET Africa is set to debut a daily drama called Queendom.

The show is produced by Clive Morris Productions and directed by Andries van der Merwe as head director, with Athi Patela and Menga Nhlabathi as series directors.

The cast includes Linda Mtoba, Sindi Dlathu, Hamilton Dlamini, Mduduzi Mabaso, Pallance Dladla, Dawn Thandeka King, Jabulani ‘Sjava’ Hadebe, Slindile Nodangala, Nhlanhla Kunene and Patrick Mofokeng.

Queendom is inspired by authentic African royal history. Celebrating the strength, resilience and power of women who shape their own destinies, the drama explores themes of cultural heritage, tradition, fate, ancestry, power struggles, identity and survival.

In the drama, a maverick community leader in South Africa discovers she is the rightful heir to the throne of the Khahlamba Kingdom. She must overcome the ruthless and immoral Prince Mcebo in a life-threatening battle to fulfil her destiny as queen.

The drama will air on BET Africa via the MultiChoice-owned digital satellite platform DStv.

Based in London, BET is an international television channel centred on black culture. It is available in Africa, along with the Middle East/North Africa region. It was launched on  February 28, 2008, in the UK and debuted in South Africa in 2015.

tagged in: ,

3Point0 Labs to represent Editi Effiong

US-based 3Point0 Labs, led by former CAA agent Marquel Martin, has agreed a deal to represent Editi Effiong, the Nigerian-American producer behind prodco Anakle Films and Netflix movie The Black Book.

Editi Effiong

The collaboration sets the stage for the launch of 3Point0 Labs’ talent and literary division, with Anakle as its first client in the space.

“Honoured to welcome Anakle Films to the 3Point0 Labs family and officially launch our talent and literary division,” stated the talent management house.

3Point0 Labs Talent & Literary Management will work with clients and third-party agencies and management firms to provide full-service talent representation, plus film and TV production and business advisory services.

As well as the Netflix movie The Black Book (20234), Effiong is known for producing Anakle movies Up North (2018), with Inkblot Productions and FilmOne, and Day of Destiny (2021), with Inkblot and AntHill Productions.

“Editi is an unstoppable creative force that embodies so much of what we have built with our partners over the last years. We’re excited to target ever greater heights with him as Anakle Films reaches each boundary defying milestone,” said Andrew Cutrow, manager and chief business officer of 3Point0 Labs.

“What they achieved with The Black Book across the globe is a testament to what is to come for Anakle Films and 3Point0 Labs. We couldn’t be more excited to help Anakle Films build out their global ambitions.”

Effiong added: “It was Andrew who helped me standardise my first pitch deck and walked me through my first pitch round. He soon became my legal rep and producer. His experience on the agency floor at CAA would come handy time and time again as we shopped out The Black Book.

“Last year, Andrew introduced me to Marquel and what they were building at 3Point0. It was so exciting seeing the work they were already doing, and I knew we had to be a part of that somehow.

“It’s still day one. There is so much to be done, but I’m excited that Anakle Films is doing this with friends who truly believe in our mission. We are telling the next generation of African stories to the world.”

tagged in: , ,

Netflix ups MENA content boss

Netflix has tapped Nuha El Tayeb, its content director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Turkey, to oversee all Arabic content following the recent departure of Ahmed Sharkawi.

Nuha El Tayeb

C21Media revealed earlier this week that Amsterdam-based director of Arabic original series Sharkawi had left Netflix after five years.

The global streamer has now confirmed to C21 that El Tayeb, who has been with the company since 2018, will oversee all Arabic content on the platform.

El Tayeb, a former senior manager for Arabic channels in the programming department at OSN, spent two years as director of acquisitions at Egyptian broadcaster CBC before joining Netflix.

During her time at Netflix, El Tayeb has agreed deals with the likes of Saudi Arabian animation studio Myrkott, covering new series and movies as well as existing comedy Masameer.

News of El Tayeb’s appointment was first reported by Deadline.

Sharkawi joined Netflix in 2019, helping build the Arabic content team and slate and leading the development of Arabic shows including Paranormal, Abla Fahita, AlRawabi School for Girls, Finding Ola, The Exchange and Crashing Eid.

Sharkawi’s next move is not yet known, but in a LinkedIn post he mentioned being “excited for the new adventures ahead.”

During his career, Sharkawi has overseen the development and production of over 500 scripted drama hours for Egypt and the Middle East.

He was among the founding team of Sony Pictures Television (SPT)’s operation in the Middle East and headed the scripted development division at SPT Arabia between 2010 and 2013.

After SPT, Sharkawi went on to set up the development divisions at various companies, such as iProductions Egypt and Beelink Productions, where he served as scripted development consultant for all its drama projects.

tagged in: ,

SVoD demand surges in Africa

African SVoD subs by platform in 2029 (000)

Sub-Saharan Africa will have 16 million paying SVoD subscribers by 2029, up nine million from the end of 2023, according to Digital TV Research.

South Africa and Nigeria will supply 59% (9.4 million) of the region’s total, the UK-based analysis firm said.

However, African SVoD penetration is still expected to be comparatively low by 2029, with only 7.1% of TV households paying for at least one subscription – although this is up from 4.7% at the end of last year.

Netflix will remain the most popular streamer, with 6.9 million subs by 2029, Digital TV Research said. It also predicted that local OTT service Showmax will be in second place with 3.7 million paying members.

Meanwhile, Disney+ will only have 905,000 subscriptions by 2029, as its roll-out on the continent is expected to be limited to South Africa.

Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “SVoD is a battle between Netflix and regional player Showmax. Rich in local content and sports rights, Showmax now has access to NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures and HBO content. Showmax’s parent MultiChoice recently rejected a takeover bid from Canal+.”

tagged in: , , ,

AGN appoints new committee members

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has appointed several new committee members and revealed plans to move its annual festival from Miami to LA.

Emeka Rollas

The new AGN committee members include Charles Inojie, director of the AGN Film Project; Sir Victor Osuagwu, senior assistant on special duties; Wash Waziri Hong, senior assistant on AGN Film Projects Northern Nigeria; and Joseph Benjamin, senior assistant on Nollywood actors in diaspora.

The list continues with Emeka Ossai, chairman of the AGN disciplinary committee; Ijeoma Thomas, senior assistant on AGN Film Projects South; Hilda Dokubo, director of training for members; Deyemi Okanlawon, planning/strategy; and Rita Edochie, AGN women leader/welfare of members, among others.

The news was announced by the president of the AGN, Emeka Rollas, who said: “With joy, I inaugurated the AGN National Disciplinary Committee headed by Chief Emeka Ossai. Discipline is very important and teaches us to follow rules and order. It is the ladder of our success; therefore, we place high priority on discipline in our Guild.”

In addition, Rollas unveiled the Actors Guild of Nigeria International Festival 2024, which is set to take place from August 8 to 10 in Los Angeles, California. Themed The Actors Marketplace, the festival is in partnership with Dream Magic Studios, a subsidiary of Silverbird Group, and the African Travel Film Festival.

The first edition of the Actors Guild of Nigeria International Festival took place in Miami, Florida, in November last year. Rollas announced the news at an event at the Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos, last Monday.

tagged in:

African toon Supa Team 4 gets BAA nom

Supa Team 4

Zambia-set animated series Supa Team 4, previously known as Mama K’s Team 4, has been nominated for best international animation series at the British Animation Awards (BAAs).

Supa Team 4 follows the adventures of four teenage girls who team up with a retired secret agent to become undercover superheroes and save the world.

Set in a futuristic version of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, the girls must juggle their secret identities, combat supervillains and navigate the challenges of everyday teenage life.

The show was created and co-executive-produced by Malenga Mulendema for France’s Superprod Studios, directed by David Osborne and produced by Triggerfish Animation Studios in South Africa. It debuted on global streaming platform Netflix in July last year.

In 2015, Mulendema was one of eight winners of the Triggerfish Story Lab, a pan-African talent search backed by the Cape Town-based animation studio and The Walt Disney Company.

The BAAs honour exceptional accomplishments in UK animation across various categories. Held every two years, the event gathers prominent figures from the industry to applaud their skills and creativity. The winners of all categories will be revealed at the BAA ceremony on March 7 in London.

“Congratulations to the entire team. We love this show and we’re so proud of all the work that was put into it,” said Triggerfish.

tagged in: , ,

UAE/Nigeria’s EK 782 joins Marriage Class

United Arab Emirates- and Nigeria-based prodco EK 782 has secured the rights to develop Adesuwa O’man Nwokedi’s book The Marriage Class as a six-part drama series.

Adesuwa O’man Nwokedi

Lagos-based writer Eno Udo-Affia is adapting the novel, which is about a group of adults in the same relationships counselling classes who must decide if they want to get married or not.

EK 782 was formed recently by producers Enyi Omeruah and Stephen Strachan. The outfit will produce, finance and distribute TV and film projects that represent the cultural movements of cities such as Lagos, Johannesburg, Dubai and Riyadh.

Omeruah said: “Nigeria is a society of hyper-transformation and Adesuwa brilliantly captures the dilemmas, anxieties and difficulties of relationships and marriage in the most exciting city in the world.”

tagged in: , ,

Wildscreen, BBCS launch Tanzania festival

Conservation charity Wildscreen, BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit (NHU) and non-profit organisation Afrisos have partnered to launch an event titled Wildscreen Festival Tanzania.

Lucie Muir

The festival will take place on June 7-8 in the East African city of Arusha and will enhance NHU’s partnership with Wildscreen, following its role as the headline sponsor of last year’s Wildscreen Nairobi Festival, according to the backers.

Wildscreen Festival Tanzania will open its doors to aspiring and established professionals from the African film industry and participants from the global natural history film sector. In addition, African storytellers and filmmakers will have the opportunity to share their insights and expertise alongside prominent figures from the global industry. There will be keynote speeches, panels, workshops, commissioning sessions and networking opportunities.

The event’s programming will receive support from a festival advisory board chaired by Faith Musembi, producer/director at the NHU. It will precede Wildscreen’s biannual global festival, scheduled to take place in Bristol, England from October 14 to 18.

Wildscreen CEO Lucie Muir said: “There were so many tangible impacts off the back of the inaugural event in Nairobi last year, whether it be connections, jobs, film funding or simply demystifying how the wildlife factual genre works. We want to build on that energy and momentum, to support a more equitable international wildlife storytelling community.”

Jonny Keeling, head of the NHU, added: “Following the success of Nairobi last year, we are excited to partner with Wildscreen again to celebrate and recognise the role of African storytellers in the world of wildlife filmmaking. Supporting in-country talent is key to building a more inclusive and sustainable industry. This event promises to bring together programme makers from across the African continent to share new ideas and new opportunities.”

Jigar Ganatra, chairman of Afrisos, said: “Over the last few years, there has been an upswell of authentic storytellers from the continent who have shown immense talent in the wildlife filmmaking industry. The energy for raising our voices for the world to hear and see our perspectives as Africans has led to a refreshed wave of natural world storytelling.

“As a local community of filmmakers and photographers, we are electrified by the fact that our work is being acclaimed internationally, and now, for the first time, the big players are coming to our doorstep to celebrate our achievements and pave a path for future collaborations. It’s about time a bridge is built between African wildlife filmmakers and the international industry – Wildscreen Tanzania promises to be that bridge.”

Wildscreen’s first festival outside of the UK was in June 2023 in Nairobi, which showcased 35 speakers, all of whom shared their expertise and experience as African storytellers with an audience of over 200 industry professionals. Last year, Wildscreen initiated trials for three global hubs located in Nairobi, Cape Town and Bangalore, with the East African hub surpassing expectations and reaching remarkable levels of success, according to the company.

tagged in: , , ,

Accelerate sets up YouTube channel

Lagos-based digital entertainment company Accelerate TV has started a YouTube channel called Accelerate Movies.

Colette Otusheso

Produced by Accelerate Studios, the new channel will display movies from a wide range of genres, from drama to comedy. According to the company, viewers should “get ready for show-stopping dramas, side-splitting comedies and so much more.”

Colette Otusheso, CEO of Accelerate, said: “Accelerate Movies is an exciting venture that allows us to further engage our YouTube and online audience with compelling narratives in a feature-length format. We are committed to delivering high-quality, original content that resonates with our viewers.

“Our team at Accelerate Studios, headed by Esse Akwawa, head of production, has poured creativity and passion into crafting these films and we can’t wait for our audience to embark on this cinematic journey with us.”

tagged in: ,

Nollywood’s Kanaani gets cinema release

Kanaani revolves around human trafficking

Nollywood film Kanaani, directed by Tola Olatunji, is set to premiere in Nigerian cinemas on September 15.

Kanaani, which means ‘promised land,’ is distributed by Lagos-based FilmOne Entertainment and had its US premiere at the prestigious Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills in April this year. The cast includes Robb Hudspeth, Ayo Kosh and Joseph Benjamin.

Produced by filmmaker Jennifer Akporehe, the film is about the global human-trafficking crisis. It follows the lives of two young lovers who decide to leave Nigeria for greener pastures, but things do not turn out as they envisioned.

Olatunji said: “The idea behind Kanaani was not just to entertain but to create an impact and change lives. [There is] nothing more satisfying than to watch viewers’ reactions right after the screening. The shock factor, arguments, discussions and emotions that it triggers in people that makes them wait behind just to discuss the movie has been mind-blowing.”

Akporehe added: “It has been a year-and-a-half, multiple countries and a gazillion time zones later, and with the help of everyone who contributed to this project in some form or fashion, we are glad to announce that Kanaani the movie is finally here.”

tagged in:

Mo Abudu to keynote at FAME Week

Mo Abudu, CEO of Nigerian film and TV production studio EbonyLifeTV, will deliver a keynote speech at the Women in Entertainment Breakfast at FAME Week Africa 2023, which takes place in Cape Town next month.

Mo Abudu

The breakfast is scheduled for September 6 and will bring together female professionals from all areas of the entertainment industry, including music, film and television. According to the organisers, it will provide a platform for women to connect, share experiences and discuss ways to overcome the challenges they face in the industry.

It will also recognise the significant role women play in shaping Africa’s entertainment landscape and breaking barriers internationally. It is designed to inspire, empower and foster connections within the industry, and create more opportunities for women.

Abudu – described as Africa’s most powerful woman by Forbes magazine – will share her insights into how women can navigate their careers and overcome obstacles.

FAME Week Africa, organised by RX Africa, will take place from September 3 to 9 and comprises Mip Africa, the Cape Town International Animation Festival, Muziki Africa and Media Entertainment Solutions Africa. The event is powered by EarCandy Dubbing and the Cape Town International Conventions Centre CTICC.

Louise Callcott-Stevens, co-founder and CEO at EarCandy, said: “There is so much research that points to women not supporting other women to reach their full career potential. As a female-owned business that consistently sees the business benefit and RoI of developing women, we want to be a part of this change.”

CTICC CEO Taubie Motlhabane added: “At the CTICC, we believe in the power of women in driving change and innovation. We are honoured to be part of the Women in Entertainment Breakfast, as it aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse industry.”

Martin Hiller, portfolio director of FAME Week Africa, said: “The Women in Entertainment Breakfast is a crucial milestone for FAME Week Africa. By celebrating and elevating the incredible talent of women in the industry, we are forging a path towards a more equitable and vibrant future for African entertainment.”

Alderman JP Smith, Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, said the event aligns with the city’s commitment to supporting initiatives that empower women and foster inclusivity.

“We are thrilled to be the host city for the Women in Entertainment Breakfast at FAME Week Africa 2023. As a city that celebrates diversity and creativity, we recognise the immense contributions of African women in the entertainment industry,” he said.

tagged in: , ,

Omoni Oboli unveils YouTube channel

Nollywood actor and producer Omoni Oboli (Moms at War, The Wedding Party 2) is launching a YouTube channel called Omoni Oboli TV.

Omoni Oboli

The channel is gearing up to premiere several movies, including Another You, Twisted and The One Who Stole My Heart, later this month.

“We started planning and shooting movies for YouTube at the end of 2019 and then Covid happened and the world went upside down,” Oboli wrote on social media. “Somehow, we lost that dream but we picked it up again this year and, to God be the glory, we are ready! So many movies already completed and ready for you!

“The Quality! Story! Acting! Sound design, colour grading… You will wonder why I released it on YouTube! The truth is, over the years, a lot of my amazing family have felt marginalised when my movies go to the cinemas or the screening giants cos they don’t have access. Now I’m making content just for you our amazing YouTube lovers.”

Oboli has written several screenplays, including The Figurine (2009), Anchor Baby (2010), Fatal Imagination, Being Mrs Elliott, The First Lady and Wives on Strike (2016). In 2018, she starred in and directed the comedy film Moms at War.

tagged in: ,

AMC’s Nolly Africa HD lands on Cineverse

International pay TV network African Movie Channel (AMC) and streaming platform Cineverse have partnered to premiere the former’s 24-hour FAST channel Nolly Africa HD on the latter’s streaming platform.

Nolly Africa HD is now accessible on Cineverse in the US and Canada through its mobile app, as well as on streaming media platform Roku. Additionally, it is available on various smart TV platforms, including Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Vizio and Samsung.

Yinka Mayungbo, AMC’s founding director, said: “Arriving on Cineverse represents another big milestone in our quest for ubiquity of our premium FAST Nollywood channel. African Movie Channel remains committed to revolutionising the entertainment landscape by delivering top-tier Nollywood content beyond Africa. Nolly Africa HD is not only for Nollywood lovers, but also for African culture fans with a love for Africa and things African.”

Nolly Africa HD showcases a diverse selection of exclusive movies from AMC’s original productions division along with blockbuster films from Nollywood cinema. The channel covers a wide range of genres, including crime thrillers, drama, romance, action and comedy.

AMC operates three 24-hour linear channels – AMC, AMC Series and Nolly Africa – all offered on various TV platforms across the African continent and beyond. Nolly Africa HD is wholly owned and powered by African Movie Channel UK.

tagged in: , ,

Disney Star, GoQuest in African sales deal

Indian broadcaster Disney Star, which operates the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service, has signed an exclusive African distribution deal with Mumbai-based distributor GoQuest Media.

Vivek Lath

The pact sees GoQuest becoming the sole distributor for Disney Star’s content portfolio across Africa, including content dubbed in both English and Hindi and encompassing TV and OTT rights to Disney Star’s linear programming catalogue.

Across a TV network that the company claims reaches more than 700 million viewers in nine languages every month and its successful streaming platform, Disney Star generates more than 20,000 hours of original content every year, including general entertainment, sports, films, infotainment, kids and lifestyle content.

The catalogue GoQuest will be shopping in Africa includes Anupamaa, Imlie, Kasauti Zindagii Kay, Yeh Jaadu Hai Jinn Ka and Chandra Nandini, under an agreement that “represents a strategic move to bring popular Indian content to a wider African audience,” according to the two parties.

The move comes after GoQuest has introduced foreign-language titles to Africa over the past 10 years. GoQuest MD Vivek Lath said: “Our track record, strong partnerships and knowledge of the region and local audiences have positioned us as the ideal team to introduce Disney Star’s Indian collection to this market.”

Sudhir Nagpal, head of international business at Disney Star, added: “Africa has a strong viewer base for our content, especially for our series across languages. We continuously seek opportunities to connect with our audience and this collaboration with GoQuest Media is another step in that direction.”

tagged in: ,

Africa braces for The Swarm

The Swarm is based Frank Schätzing’s novel

Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video has picked up ecological thriller The Swarm for subscribers in sub-Saharan territories.

The 8×60’ series is based on Frank Schätzing’s bestselling book and chronicles the struggle of humankind against an unknown enemy that lives in the depths of the sea.

The Swarm is produced by Schwarm TV Productions, a joint venture between Intaglio Films and ndF IP, for ZDF, France Télévisions, Rai Fiction, Viaplay Group, Hulu Japan, ORF and SRF, in coproduction with Bravado Fiction and Beside Production, in co-operation with Athos KG.

Germany’s ZDF Studios and Beta Film are handling worldwide sales. The deal with Amazon was brokered by Yuliya Fischer, director of drama at ZDF Studios.

The series, directed by Barbara Eder (Barbarians), Luke Watson (Ripper Street) and Philipp Stölzl (The Physician), stars Alexander Karim (Dying of the Light), Cécile de France (The New Pope), Leonie Benesch (The Crown), Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt) and Takuya Kimura (I Come With the Rain).

“The Swarm is one of the hottest titles in our scripted catalogue. I’m delighted that Prime Video will be introducing its African subscribers to this ecological thriller that is like no other,” said Fischer.

tagged in: , ,

Netflix lines up SA series Miseducation

Miseducation stars Buntu Petse

Global streamer Netflix is set to premiere new South African comedy-drama series Miseducation on September 15.

Miseducation is produced by Randburg-based Burnt Onion Productions, created by Rethabile Ramaphakela and Katleho Ramaphakela and directed by Catharine Cooke, Themba Mfebe, Lwazi Mvusi and Rea Rangaka.

The young-adult series tells the story of a wannabe influencer, played by Buntu Petse, who is forced to start afresh in a small university town after her mother’s implication in a corruption scandal.

Once in the remote town, she tries to regain her social status and ‘uncancel’ herself. Her haters, on the other hand, will stop at nothing to bring her right back down to earth.

As well as Petse, the cast includes Lunga Shabalala, Baby Cele, Prev Reddy, Mpho Sebeng, Micaela Tucker, Mandisa Nduna, Camilla Waldman, Nicole Bessick and Ebenhaezer Dibakwane.

tagged in: ,

Showmax reflects on eight years

As Showmax marks its eighth birthday this weekend, the MultiChoice-owned African streamer has reflected upon its journey, which has been marked by significant achievements.

Yolisa Phahle

During its existence, the streaming service has attained noteworthy milestones. The number of Showmax subscribers has exhibited an impressive average growth rate of 26% over the past four years, the company said.

Showmax is also the most highly rated streaming app in South Africa, as evidenced by its ratings of 4.6 on the South African Google Play store and 4.8 on Apple’s App Store. These figures place Showmax in close proximity to Apple TV+’s ratings, showcasing the platform’s high level of user satisfaction and engagement.

The streaming platform’s local content has also garnered awards at events such as the SAFTAs in South Africa, AMVCAs in Nigeria, Kalashas in Kenya and International Emmys in the US. Showmax cop drama Reyka, for example, clinched nominations for two International Emmys, while thriller series Spinners achieved a milestone as the first African series to be chosen at CanneSeries in France.

Furthermore, other series such as Recipes for Love & Murder as well as Donkerbos earned their spots in the esteemed Berlinale Series Market Selects, alongside other notable recent recognitions.

Showmax features local content in more than 20 African languages. In 2022, seven of the 10 most streamed titles on Showmax in South Africa, eight of the top 10 titles in Kenya and Nigeria and nine of the top 10 in Ghana were African. Overall, local content viewership on Showmax has hit 57% in 2023, while viewership for Zulu telenovela The Wife has now surpassed 50 million hours ahead of any international content.

In March 2023, Showmax unveiled a collaboration with Comcast’s US studio NBCUniversal and European pay TV arm Sky for a relaunch set to take place before the end of this financial year, ending March 2024. The new Showmax will combine MultiChoice’s investment in local content with a pipeline of international content from NBCUniversal and Sky, third-party content from HBO, Warner Brothers, Sony and others, as well as live English Premier League matches.

In addition, Showmax is the only place in Africa to stream the following international drama series that are nominated at the upcoming 75th Emmy Awards: family business drama Succession S4 (27 nominations), post-apocalyptic video game adaptation The Last of Us S1 (24 noms) and the Sicily-set The White Lotus S2 (23 noms).

Other achievements for Showmax include emerging as the first streaming platform on the continent to facilitate mobile downloads, allowing users to enjoy content offline, as well as enabling the lowest data streaming option on the continent and accepting payments in local currencies and payment platforms.

Yolisa Phahle, CEO of Showmax, said: “Showmax is clearly differentiated from the international streamers by our local content and football, a strategy that has seen Showmax consistently deliver subscriber growth ahead of target. Africa’s population is growing at three times the global average – an unrivalled growth opportunity – and is expected to double in size by 2050 to around 2.5 billion – likely to be a quarter of the world’s population. Combined with growing internet connectivity off the lowest base in the world, this gives us an incredible opportunity.”

tagged in:

MultiChoice launches FTA channel in Botswana

MultiChoice Botswana has launched a free-to-air channel called Ytv.

Stephanie Pillay

Available on satellite TV platform DStv on channel 291, the channel showcases programming from Botswana and also offers creators opportunities to grow their content on the platform.

MultiChoice Botswana MD Stephanie Pillay said: “It has always been our mission to ensure that our DStv Botswana viewers have access to authentic local stories which resonate with them and feed their television viewing appetite for homegrown entertainment.

“Ytv was an obvious choice for us when investigating where we could enhance our local content offering. The channel is built on the promise to not only tell local stories but to do it with content that is relevant, current and youthful. We look forward to bringing such to our valued customers.

“At MultiChoice Botswana, we have every intention of helping Ytv enhance its content offering, providing viewers quality shows that meets their standard of entertainment. It is therefore our responsibility to ensure that through Ytv, DStv Botswana subscribers are offered value-for-money television entertainment that meets and exceeds their television entertainment needs that rivals that of the other channels on the platform.”

tagged in: ,