In this monthly feature,S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a roundup of news related toover-the-top, video-on-demand and other online video initiatives in differentAfrican and Middle Eastern markets.
TOP STORY
*The British BroadcastingCorp. rolled out its French-focused African TV service BBC Afriquein Senegal, via the BBC Infos show on Dunyaa TV, Rapid TV News reportedJuly 16. BBC Afrique is available across 23 countries in Francophone Africa,reaching 14.8 million viewers per week, according to the report.
OTHER NEWS
*Senegal's Péritel TV is set to provide 50 more channels by the end of July,bringing the total channels in its pay TV offer to 100, NexTV News Africa &Middle East reportedJuly 14, citing NdarInfo. Via the ongoing replacement of the cable system withfiber optic infrastructure, the pay TV operator could also reportedly introducea video-on-demand service by 2017.
*Vivendi SA unitCanal Plus SA willlaunch a new low-cost mobile subscription video-on-demand service, inpartnership with Nigeria-based internet TV operator iROKO, NexTV News Africa& Middle East reportedJuly 13. The SVOD service will feature content from iROKO and Canal Plus'pan-African channel A+, with subscription reportedly costing no greater than €2per month. Canal Plus and iROKO have previously launched an Android-based SVOD app for French-speakingAfrica.
*Time Warner Inc.'sTurner Broadcasting SystemInc. will launch HD and dual language options in Middle East andNorth Africa for CartoonNetwork (US) and Boomerang (US) later in July. The channels will be viewableboth in English and Arabic in the region on beIN for DTH satellite customers oncompatible IPTV platforms, Digital TV Europe reported July 12.
*Soon-to-be-launched over-the-top platform Tammah is targeting a rollout by theend of October, NexTV News Africa & Middle East reportedJuly 12. The OTT platform is eyeing independent African content, and iscurrently seeking funds on Kickstarter for its launch, according to the report.
*The programming code for free-to-air broadcasters in Kenya has come into forceon July 1, the Communications Authority of Kenya announcedon its website. Broadcasters are required to allot 40% of their programming tolocal content within their first year of licensing, among other provisions.Failure to comply could subject broadcasters to a fine ranging from 500,000Kenyan shillings to 0.2% of their gross turnover.
*VICE Media Inc.entered into multipleinternational distribution deals that will expand its reach to 51 territories, Variety reported June 22. VICEreportedly has struck agreements with at least seven groups in severalinternational markets. These media groups reportedly include India-based TheTimes of India Group, the Moby Group, which offers services in Middle East andNorth Africa, SBS in Australia, Sky in New Zealand, Multi Channels Asia inSoutheast Asia, Econet Media in Africa and Groupe V Media in French-speakingCanada.