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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 …

LUXEMBOURG: Sky News Arabia, a joint venture between BSkyB and the Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation, has joined the European News Exchange (Enex), a leading provider of news footage across Europe. Sky News Arabia, which launched in May 2012, has been providing news material into the Enex since July 1, …

BOGOTÁ: The Colombian production Mariana and Scarlett has been sold by Caracol TV International to the Wananchi Programming Group to air in Africa. The show, which features the actresses Carolina Acevedo and Carolina Guerra, will air in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Eritrea, Malawi, Zambia and Sudan on the …

NEW YORK: iROKOtv, which is billed as the "Netflix of Africa," has notched up more than 500,000 registered users in less than six months since its launch. iROKOtv is Africa’s first legal online source for Nollywood films. The company has the backing of $8 million in funding from the U.S. …

SINGAPORE: An agreement between ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), the exclusive Asian rights holder for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) matches, and Al Jazeera Sport brings live coverage of the Friends Life Twenty20 2012 to the Middle East and North Africa for the first time. Al Jazeera gains live coverage for …

LOS ANGELES: Basic Lead is planning to subsidize the attendance of up to 100 international content buyers for this year’s edition of DISCOP Africa, set for October 31 to November 2 in Johannesburg. The organizers will target acquisitions executives who are interested in increasing their amount of programming created in …