Cannes, France: A report in the MIPTV daily news magazine, The News, reveals that Latin American telenovela is becoming addictive viewing in some African countries. Karina Etchison, Telemundo Internationl Sales Manager, Latin America-Africa, who attended Sithengi, the Television and Film Market held in November 2006 in Cape Town, said that in Abidjan during Ramadan last January, some of the mosques brought prayer time forward so that the faithful could do their religious duty and still not miss the latest episode of their favourite telenovela.
“During our visit to the Sithengi Television and Film Market in Cape Town last year, we had the opportunity to personally observe how appealing and important the telenovela market is in Africa.”
Negotiations for the telenovela, “Second Chance” which runs in over 50 countries worldwide, has begun with broadcasters in African countries such as Namibia (Channel One Africa), Nigeria (Africa Independent Television), Kenya
(Citizen TV), Ghana (Ghana Television), and Tanzania (AMG). Next on the list to be approached with the telenovela format are Seychelles, Zambia, Uganda, Mauritius and Burkina Faso.
