World Screen

JOHANNESBURG: The story of the life of Nelson Mandela is being turned into a six-part mini-series by Out of Africa Entertainment, Blue Ice Films and Left Bank Pictures. Tentatively titled Madiba, the six-part TV project shines a light on the Nobel Peace Prize winner who was the first black president of …

NAIROBI: NBCUniversal International Television Distribution has licensed a selection of library feature films, including the Jurassic Park trilogy, for pay-TV rights in the East Africa region to Wananchi Group’s Zuku. Highlights of the deal include The Incredible Hulk, The Mummy 3, Mamma Mia!, Hellboy 2, The Changeling and The Tale …

ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi TV Network has added seven new channels from the Dubai-based MBC Group. AD Sports set-top box subscribers gain access to MBC 1, MBC 2, MBC 4, MBC Drama, MBC Action, MBC Max and Al Arabiya news channel, all in high definition. The partnership also includes AD Sports’ exclusive Barclays Premier …

  The Electronic Media Network, or M-Net, was established in 1985 as South Africa’s first private subscription television service. Its first broadcast, in October 1986, consisted of just one 12-hour channel.   M-Net has grown significantly over the course of the last 25 years and today it operates an array …

RIYADH: News Corp. investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who owns 95 percent of Kingdom Holding, has purchased a stake in Twitter for $300 million. The investment by the Saudi Prince and the Kingdom Holding Company represents around 3 percent of Twitter. Prince Alwaleed has investments in entertainment and media entities …

LAUSANNE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded the exclusive terrestrial TV rights in Sub-Saharan Africa for the London 2012 Games to Octagon. Octagon also gets the non-exclusive radio and mobile platform broadcast rights for the 2012 Games. Jacques Rogge, IOC’s president, said, “We are delighted to have reached this …

JOHANNESBURG: MTV Networks Africa is bringing the Comedy Central channel to MultiChoice’s DStv platform in sub-Saharan Africa.  Starting December 6, a bespoke 24-hour English-language Comedy Central service will go out to 47 territories in sub-Saharan Africa. The launch on DStv brings viewers hits such as The Daily Show with Jon …

JOHANNESBURG: M-Net is presenting the VOD offering of the African Film Library (AFL), featuring the world’s largest collection of award-winning African film content. Managed by DStv Online, the AFL features films and documentaries from across the continent that are accessible to viewers worldwide. The AFL also delivers a new digital …

DOHA: Paul Johnson, who previously held posts at the Endemol Group and Reed MIDEM, has been hired by Al Jazeera Media Network to serve as its executive director of marketing and distribution.  Johnson will oversee all the global marketing, communication and distribution activities at the company. He will work to …

DUBAI: The newly formed Dubai Film and TV Commission is developing incentives to encourage international producers to film in the emirate, as well as schemes to bolster the skills of local crews. The commission held its first board meeting in Dubai last week under the leadership of chairman Jamal Al …