As African-produced content continues to draw the attention of distributors and
content aggregators from Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as abroad, DISCOP
Johannesburg 2017 has seen a significant rise in the number of registered African
content producers, as well as interested buyers.
With revenue from Africa’s pay-TV sitting at $4.4 billion and expected to exceed $6
billion by 2021, the time is now to continue the momentum of content production as a
significant economic booster for African economies.
African produced content rightfully took its place centre stage last year at DISCOP
Johannesburg with 267 of the 347 production houses in attendance hailing from
Africa, an increase from 193 in 2015.
With a total of over 10 000 hours of original programming presented by 300+ global,
regional and local content distributors and producers, from 60 countries, delegates at
this year’s event will notice the abundance of content produced in Africa on offer.
This year, of the nearly 1 000 registered delegates there are representatives from 32
sub-Saharan African countries:
• # of Independent Producers from Sub-Saharan Africa | 212
• # of content acquisitions executives from Sub-Saharan Africa | 225
• # of content distributors from Sub-Saharan Africa | 128
• # of companies selling content ‘Made in Africa’ (so far) | 287
Major players such as XXX as well as dozens of independent producers will be in
attendance.
These producers and distributers will be presenting their content to international
buyers from across the globe including, Fox, NBC Universal, Viacom, Disney, Canal +,
CBS, LionsGate, DreamWorks and Cote Ouest amongst others.
African broadcasters are also now, more than ever, looking for African content, and a
host of top African broadcasters, streaming networks and content aggregators are
registered to attend, including Africa TV Kinshasha, Kana TV Ethiopia, Ghone
Television Ghana, Radio Television Burkina Faso, Botswana Television, M-Net Africa
Magic Nigeria, Kwese TV, Showmax, Mnet, SABC South Africa, e.tv South Africa,
Showmax, and RTI Cote d’Ivoire amongst others.
Close to 250+ international, regional and local suppliers and producers of film,
television and digital content, adaptation rights and packaged TV channels will be
attending DISCOP Johannesburg with more than 10 000+ movies, limited and
episodic TV series, dramas, animated and educational content, formats,
documentaries, and much more. They will exhibit across a 5 000 SQ. metre market
floor at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Running parallel to the market and open to all registered delegates, The Next Gen
Programme will feature speakers and experts from major corporations, smaller
companies and select start-ups, both onstage and in carefully constructed discussions
and workshops.
The Next Gen Programme will specifically target film, television and digital
content producers and help improve pitching, networking and business skills. It will
guarantee access to indispensable information on alternative distribution and funding
opportunities; on virtual reality content production, funding and distribution; on
expanding relations between Francophone and Anglophone Africa.
The programme will also put under the spotlight, Ethiopia, a country with a population
upwards of 100+ million; animation, Africa’s fastest-growing and most creative
content production and distribution segment, and the new global streaming services
and their impact on homegrown original content production.
