DISCOP Africa Set for Brisk Business

LOS ANGELES/PARIS: With four weeks to go before the first DISCOP Africa is under way, 350 participants have already registered for the event. 

Launched by the organizers of the DISCOP and NATPE markets, the international conference is dedicated to the development of the TV content business in Africa. In addition to acquisitions and programming executives from African broadcasters and pay-TV platforms, some 100 television content sales organizations will be in attendance. These include ALL3MEDIA, Caracol TV, Disney-ABC-ESPN Television, Discovery Networks, Endemol, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Power, Telefe, Telemundo and TV Azteca, among others. 

The three-day event—which will take place at the Sofitel Terranga Hotel in Dakar, Senegal, from February 25 to 27—includes a one-day conference program and two days of pre-organised meetings between participants and several social networking functions.

Patrick Jucaud, the general manager of DISCOP, commented, "We are delighted by the enthusiasm shown by content providers, buyers, advertisers and marketing agencies for the launch of DISCOP Africa. The massive growth of television advertising investment and the deployment of pay-TV platforms throughout the continent, makes Africa one of the world’s most dynamic marketplaces right now. And, with the close proximity of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the increasing availability of low-cost TV sets in Africa, the time has never been better for suppliers of finished programs, formats and packaged TV channels, from overseas as well as from the continent itself to come together and do business."