Africa

Digital broadcast migration in West Africa: Getting the most out of the transition
Digital broadcast migration in West Africa: Getting the most out of the transition 13 April 2011 Russell Southwood

The digital migration is probably going to be one of the biggest upheavals in African television since the medium was first launched on the continent. It is a process of change that will affect both the broadcasters themselves and those who watch television.

Digital broadcast migration in West Africa: Nigeria Research Report
Digital broadcast migration in West Africa: Nigeria Research Report 13 April 2011 Fola Odufwa

Nigeria, one of Africa’s most liberalised broadcast markets, appears to be on course to meet its self-imposed target of June 17, 2012 as the change- over date to digital broadcasting transmission in the country. Industry regulator the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the industry claims that cable and Direct – to – home (“DTH”) operators in the country are already transmitting digital signals. In addition, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has pub...

Action Research Network
Action Research Network 11 April 2011

The APC Action Research Network is a network of researchers who focus on “information society” themes. They are carrying out research for action intended to lead to positive changes in the policy environments in the countries and regions where they live and work in three areas – spectrum, human rights online and ICTs and environment.  

New website helps transition to digital broadcasting in Africa
New website helps transition to digital broadcasting in Africa 04 April 2011 APC and Balancing Act

African countries have committed to migrating to digital broadcasting by June 2015. It will be a costly process and it is not clear who will benefit — or where the resources needed to make the transition will come from. A new website provides independent information for policy-makers about making the transition and reports on digital migration in Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.

Pirated DVDs in a South African township mean access to culture and social inclusion
Pirated DVDs in a South African township mean access to culture and social inclusion 13 March 2011 LC

Although the political significance of piracy as a form of rebellion in South Africa has mostly dropped away in the post-Apartheid era, “the sharply racialised patterns of inequality and access to media have not,” says a new book that looks at the prevalence of media piracy, how it is organised, and why people buy pirated goods or work in the black market. The book collects case studies fro...

Media Piracy in South Africa
Media Piracy in South Africa 13 March 2011 LC

Poverty and social inequity in South Africa have shaped the development of media culture and distribution in the country. Low incomes in a country where one-third of the population lives on less than one dollar a day, high prices for commercial DVDs and Cds and a widespread advertising culture have created a high demand for media goods which are not easily obtained legally for the great majori...

South Africa: Untapped TV spectrum can make internet more affordable
South Africa: Untapped TV spectrum can make internet more affordable 28 February 2011

“Open spectrum is important because access is important” says Steve Song, telecommunications fellow at the Shuttleworth Foundation in an interview with APCNews. But in South Africa, the problem is not lack of access – it’s that access is not affordable. Freeing up wireless spectrum, such as television white spaces —the space between channels— or making more information available on ...

Open spectrum for development: South Africa case study
Open spectrum for development: South Africa case study 18 February 2011 Steve Song

Prior to 1994, spectrum in South Africa was managed by the state body responsible for its implementation. Thus broadcast spectrum was managed by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and telecommunications spectrum managed by the state telecommunications provider, Telkom. This was generally uncontentious because, prior to the rise of mobile telecommunications and wireless broadband,...

Non-Profit Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship Training Workshop
Non-Profit Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship Training Workshop 04 February 2011 Tshepo Thlaku

Training Workshop: Enterprise Modelling for Non-Profit Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship Ungana-Afrika proudly presents a training workshop that will provide participants with the knowledge and tools to define how their organisation can be sustainable and create value while generating revenues. Date: 21-22 February 2011 Venue: Sunnyside Park Hotel, Parktown, Johannesburg Outco

Egypt: Regimes cannot overcome the power of people communicating in solidarity
Egypt: Regimes cannot overcome the power of people communicating in solidarity 28 January 2011

“The power of people communicating in solidarity and joint action is a power that even the most over-confident rulers and regimes cannot overcome, not in the long term”, said APC’s executive director Anriette Esterhuysen. “What is happening in Egypt and Tunisia is a demonstration of people’s outrage and courage in the face of long term repression – now played out on and supported by...

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