Entertainment
MultiChoice Shares Insights To Content Success At MIP Africa
MultiChoice has shared insights to content success at MIP Africa with reference to Authenticity, hyperlocal stories, and a visceral understanding of the audience are pivotal indicators for success in the African television and film landscape.
Read Also: Federal Government, Netherlands Hold Talks On Illegal Migration
While various insights, overwhelmingly practical and actionable, were shared during a MultiChoice panel discussion at MIP Africa this week, these three indicators served as a throughline for how content creators could successfully pitch to become part of MultiChoice’s creative ecosystem.
The panel discussion, Unlocking Opportunities: MultiChoice and the African Film & TV Industry, took place at MIP Africa, an annual opportunity for African content creators, producers, and sellers to present their work to a global array of buyers, investors, and potential co-production partners.
MIP Africa forms part of Fame Week Africa, a week-long festival focusing on African television, music, and film. MultiChoice plays a key role as a sponsor of both events.
According to Waldimar Pelser, Channel Director: Premium Channels at MultiChoice, their most valuable content creators understand their market.
“The most productive conversations we have are with producers that consume our content and on a visceral level know who our audience is. (Our partners) have to understand who they’re making content for.”
In terms of what that content looks like, Pelser shared that content that can only be made locally, and that viewers would not be able to find elsewhere, reap the most success.
Other News: LSFA Opens 2023 Lagos Street Soccer Championship Registration
Popular genres include drama and unscripted reality, with the consensus being that while successful themes are universal, viewers want something “uniquely South African,” with the setting being locally specific and the story and storytelling showcasing an understanding of who the audience is.
Viewers also tend to gravitate toward dramas with authenticity, warmth, and optimism, while there is generally a low tolerance for gimmicks – in any genre. In unscripted reality, shows where the audience can see themselves on screen generally enjoy success.
“For unscripted it’s a mirror,” said Pelser. “We want to see ourselves on screen. (Shows) that remind us who we are – those tend to work.”
Tebogo Matlawa, Head of Scripted Content: Middle & Mass: South Africa at MultiChoice, echoed Pelser and said that while the audience wants to see themselves on screen, producers should also “look outside the bubble of their own existence” when working on content.
“Our audience likes to be involved and go on the journey” and for that reason, they’ve found that very family-orientated shows, with a female point of view, and generally not risqué, do well. While action and dramas have seen success, there isn’t much of an appetite for violence.
“Always think, would you watch this with your grandmother?” he advised when considering pitches for scripted content for middle and mass markets.
Victor Sanchez Aghahowa, Head of Production, West Africa for MultiChoice Africa, as well as Nicola van Niekerk, Head of Content for Premium Channels and co-productions, reiterated MultiChoice’s success with hyperlocal content.
“We need the connection; people need to feel. If not, what are you doing?” said Aghahowa. “Compelling characters in compelling situations that anybody can relate to – that’s what we’re looking for. Anything inauthentic will immediately be sniffed out by our younger audience.”
According to Van Niekerk, Showmax, specifically, has seen significant success with documentaries as well as dramas.
In terms of co-productions, Van Niekerk pointed to the necessity for producers to have an in-depth understanding of both the local and the international audience before pitching a project.
“As a producer, you need to assess your story and say, ‘Where will this story work?’ Will it work in a very specific demographic hyper-locally in South Africa, but where else will it work? Which other broadcaster will like that? And to know that you need to understand all of the broadcaster’s strategies (on a global level).”
She warns against assuming that what works locally will work elsewhere. This helps to secure funding if the appetite and interest have already been assessed.
Van Niekerk said popular co-productions generally have three things in common: “It’s crime, it’s English and it’s in a beautiful setting. We can tell that those work the best.”
Lerato Moruti, Senior Manager: Reality and Entertainment for Middle & Mass: M-Net, said that successful reality shows provide a sense of tabloid voyeurism, with family-based reality shows that rate high with viewers.
But, said Moruti, South Africans look for meaning in content, and respond well to “help TV”, specifically referring to the popular Mzansi Magic reality show Abandoned about orphaned children that seek out family members later in life.
Entertainment
Naira Abuse: Court Convicts Bobrisky, Fixes April 9 For Sentencing
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday convicted controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, for abusing the Naira and fixed April 9 for sentencing.
The court fixed the date after Bobrisky pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of tampering with the N490,000 by spraying brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Earlier, the EFCC, through its counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, had withdrawn the two-count of laundering N180.7 million through his company, BOB EXPRESS.
He did not give any reason for the decision.
Following the plea of the convict, Justice Awogboro convicted him and then ordered the anti-graft agency to review the facts of the case.
While reviewing the facts of the case, Sulaiman called an investigating officer with the Commission, Bolaji Temitope, who told the judge that the EFCC received intelligence of individuals who have the habit of mutilating and spraying Naira during parties in Lagos.
Temitope also told the court that based on intelligence, the commission sent out an operation team to monitor and observe the activities of suspects.
He said, “We usually visit event centres and monitor social media pages where Naira is abused.
“During the exercise, we came across a video on social media where the convict was seen abusing the Naira.
“Our team then proceeded to view the video and burnt the same on CD. Consequently, the invitation letter was forwarded to the defendant.
“When he honoured the invitation, the defendant was shown a video where he was spraying money on Segun Johnson. He confirmed that he was the one in the video,” he said.
The prosecution then tendered the video, and the court admitted it without objection from the defence lawyer, Ayo Olumofin.
In his allocution, the convict pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy because he was unaware of the law that criminalises the spraying of the Naira.
The convict also claimed he is a social media influencer with over five million followers.
At this point, the judge told him that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.
The convict then said, “I know my lord. My lord, I wish you could give me a second chance to use my platform to inform and educate my followers about spraying money.
“I would do a video on my page and I will educate people about spraying money. I will not repeat it, my lord; I regret my actions, my lord.”
After listening to the parties, Justice Awogboro adjourned the matter to April 9 for sentencing and also remanded the convict in the custody of the EFCC.
The defendant had arrived at court in a bus at about 9 am and was kept waiting inside for over two hours before he was led into the courtroom.
Bobrisky, who wore a black gown and covered his head with a black veil, was surrounded by ten armed operatives of the EFCC who prevented journalists from taking her pictures.
The first four counts of the charge signed by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alleged that the defendant abused the Naira, while the last two counts border on alleged money laundering.
Entertainment
Tiwa Savage Confirms Release Date For Debut Movie
Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has announced the release date for her highly anticipated debut movie, ‘Water And Garri.’
Read Also: Telecoms Union Suspends Planned Strike
Savage, who had previously teased fans about her entry into the film industry, announced the highly anticipated release date on social media on Thursday, April 4, 2024.
She disclosed that the movie will be released on May 10, 2024, via global streaming giant, Prime Video.
Sharing a promotional flier showing herself and Nollywood actors Jemima Osunde and Mike Afolayan, Savage wrote: “My beautiful people, our movie @waterandgarrifilm has a date. See you May 10th @primevideo.”
The movie is executive produced by Tiwa Savage and takes its title from her latest EP, ‘Water And Garri.’
Entertainment
Kano Bans Movies Promoting Cross Dressing, Thuggery
Kano State Censorship Board has issued directives banning movies that portray or promote cross-dressing and thuggery in the state.
Read Also: Group Seeks Probe Of Former NEMA DG, Mustapha Ahmed
The executive secretary of the Board, Abba El-Mustapha, made this known yesterday when he met with the board’s management and stakeholders from Kannywood.
A statement issued by the board’s information officer, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, said the decision to ban such films was necessitated by public outcry, hence the need to address the production of films suspected to be promoting crimes and deviant behaviours among youths.
The statement also quoted Abba El-Mustapha to have stated that, “it is high time to fish out any film that may demoralize our customs, norms and values in the name of reaching popularity, viewers or business making.”
El-Mustapha further explained that the Board has the power to ban, suspend or prohibit the production, distribution, sale or exhibition of any film, pornographic books or publications in the state.
He urged the general public to provide relevant information to the Board on any film or publication they believe is not in accordance with the law.
-
Entertainment1 year ago
The Story Of A Woman With Unusual Long Backside, Sarah Baartman
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Tallest Man In Nigeria Afeez Agoro Cries Out To Nigerians For Financial Support After Chronic Arthritis Diagnosis As SFCOBA 94Set Pays Him Visit
-
Business2 years ago
Nigeria Vs Ghana: Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club Seals Sponsorship Deal with 86Z Football Technology Limited Foots
-
Education2 years ago
Tokunbo Wahab: An uncommon legal eagle soaring daily to a greater place in history
-
News8 months ago
Physical Planning Commissioner, Oluyinka Olumide Assumes Office …Harps On Transparency, Zero Tolerance To Building Collapse
-
Featured1 year ago
Buruj Football Club’s Players Moving To Europe Delights Obesere
-
Sports11 months ago
Victor Osimhen Returns To Roots As Football Superstar Visits Primary School And Inspires Young Talent
-
Featured2 years ago
Qatar 2022 World Cup Playoff: Black Stars Hold Eagles To Scoreless Draw In Kumasi