AfricaCast to Showcase the Enormous Potential of Digital TV in the Region

Sept. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- London 24th September 2012 – With most African countries signed up to a 2015 analogue terrestrial switch off date some companies have got ahead of the pack and launched their own DTT services. For instance low-cost pay DTT operator StarTimes has racked up more than 400,000 customers in Nigeria alone, barely more than a year after launch and having more than a million subs region-wide. This has, no doubt, alerted Multichoice, which has teamed up with Pace to launch GOtv, its own low-cost DVB-T2-based pay DTT offering. The service is already available in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and, most recently, Nigeria – with a pan-African launch on its agenda.

Adam Thomas, Media Research Manager at Informa Telecoms & Media, says “Only 25% of sub-Saharan homes have a TV set, so the potential for growth is obvious. The 2015 switchover date means the clock is ticking for DTT roll-out and the next few years will therefore be crucial, as the region’s TV sector will be transformed beyond recognition. Bearing that in mind, it’s no surprise that major players like Multichoice are already positioning themselves to ensure they are at the centre of these changes.”

These themes will be explored further at AfricaCast this November. Sivan Pillay, Managing Director of South Africa at Endemol will be giving a Keynote Case Study on Unlocking the Potential of African TV through Digital Transformation which will be followed by Adam Thomas’ colleague, Nick Thomas, Principal Analyst who will be examining The Outlook for the Pay-TV Market in Africa.

AfricaCast will be featuring several other high profile speakers from the Broadcasting industry such as Alex Okosi, Senior VP & MD from Viacom International, the man who was responsible for launching MTV in Africa. Representatives from the likes of Youtube, Southtel, Multichoice, ABN, Facebook and Rovio will also be speaking about the latest industry issues.

AfricaCast will take place 14th-15th November 2012 in the Cape Town Convention Centre in South Africa. It is co-located with AfricaCom, the largest community event in Africa which attracts 7,000+ attendees every year. For more information on AfricaCast please visit: www.africacast-event.com or you can follow the conversation on Twitter by following @africacast.

ENDS



About Informa Telecoms & Media
Informa Telecoms and Media (www.informatandm.com) organises 125 global annual events, attended by more than 70,000 executives worldwide. With a focus on quality content, Informa Telecoms and Media deliver a key audience of decision-makers from the mobile, fixed, alternative, wholesale, MVNO, broadband and satellite operator communities. Informa Telecoms and Media is also the leading provider of business intelligence and strategic services to the global telecoms and media markets. Driven by constant first-hand contact with the industry, its 90 analysts and researchers produce a range of intelligence services including news and analytical products, in depth market reports and datasets focussed on technology, strategy and content.

For media information please contact Stephen Scott at stephen.scott@informa.com or call on +44 20 3377 3313