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JOHANNESBURG: M-Net has made a new set of titles available from the African Film Library (AFL), with a season of films dedicated to African humor. The catalogue includes the comedy Max and Mona, The President has Aids, Pousee-Pousee, Rickshaw Tricycle Man, Soweto Green and Kini and Adams. The movies are …

DUBAI: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has signed three new distribution deals in the Middle East, inking agreements with broadcasters in Egypt, Qatar and Dubai. Feature films from the Sony Pictures library, spanning a variety of genres, are headed to a trio of networks in the region, via a set of …

CANNES/ABU DHABI: twofour54 and its Abu Dhabi Film Commission have launched an incentive scheme that will start in September, in an effort to position Abu Dhabi as the go-to destination for international TV production. A rebate of up to 30 percent of qualifying spend in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi …

HONG KONG: News Corporation has purchased newly issued shares in Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s Rotana Group for $35 million, upping its stake in the Middle Eastern media company to 18.97 percent from 14.53 percent. News Corp. first invested in Rotana in February 2010, taking a 9.09-percent interest and options to …

BEIRUT: Lebanese Media Holding (LMH) has alleged that the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) is refusing to pay amounts due under production-sharing arrangements between the two outfits, but the LBCI is now hitting back against the claims. LMH, which is majority owned by Saudi prince Waleed Bin Talal, previously shut …

November 30 to December 1 Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre   The MyContent entertainment market, serving the Middle East and North Africa, is returning this month in its second edition, taking place November 30 to December 1 in Dubai. The inaugural MyContent drew in more than 3,000 professionals from …

LONDON: Zuku and FOX International Channels (FIC) are teaming up for another season of the Kenyan cooking and travel series Tales from the Bush Larder, which will air on Zuku Afrika and on FIC’s outlets. Zuku and FIC are jointly funding the production and will co-own the series. Zuku will …

DUBAI: Brightcove, the Boston-based provider of cloud video services, is expanding its foothold in the Middle East by opening an office in the United Arab Emirates. The company’s new hub in Dubai will be led by Brahim Laraiki, a sales leader who has held posts at Orange, Lenovo and Microsoft. …

LONDON: Twofour is slated to produce eight original Arabic-language titles, including the six-part docu-series The Goodness of Our Land, for Abu Dhabi Media's TV network, which re-launches on December 2. The Goodness of Our Land spotlights UAE farmers and how they deal with hot and dry weather conditions. Other upcoming …

LONDON/JOHANNESBURG: Chello Zone and MultiChoice have announced that four channels, among them CBS Drama and CBS Action, are being added to DStv across Africa. CBS Drama and CBS Action will become available for the first time in Africa. The channels feature programming from the CBS Studios International catalogue, as well …