Discop Johannesburg is slated to have more than 1500 delegates attending the event at the Sandton Convention Centre from 14-16 November. Visitors will include more than 400 acquisition and development executives representing broadcasters, premium cable channels, mobile operators, and streaming platforms from across Sub-Saharan Africa. Discop Joburg will also host 200+ global and regional distributors […]
Discop Johannesburg is slated to have more than 1500 delegates attending the event at the Sandton Convention Centre from 14-16 November. Visitors will include more than 400 acquisition and development executives representing broadcasters, premium cable channels, mobile operators, and streaming platforms from across Sub-Saharan Africa. Discop Joburg will also host 200+ global and regional distributors who will be showcasing their latest offerings and seeking new representation deals.
Discops Next Gen programme is reportedly curated to focus on the most important topics and issues relating to Africa and the Middle East. This years topics will have a strong focus on animation and TV series.
Over the last two years, the African Animation Network (AAN) has partnered with Annecy International Animated Film Festival & Market and DISCOP Markets to host the Annecy – MIFA Pitches Animation du Monde in Africa.
In 2018, Discop Markets and AAN, launched Disconomics in partnership with ICON Comic & Games Convention (South Africa), NAICCON (Kenya) and Lagos Comic Con (Nigeria)- the three longest running pop culture events in Southern, Eastern and Western Africa. As a result, Annecy – MIFA Pitches Animation du Monde was run across five territories in Africa including Abidjan, Johannesburg, Zanzibar, Nairobi and Lagos. The 10 finalists, two from each territory, will descend upon Discop Johannesburg to compete in the continental final. The two winners of the continental final, identified by the panel of international expert judges, will then go on to represent Africa and compete against their global counterparts at Annecy International Animated Film Festival & Market 2019.
With the recent announcement at MIPCOM that South Africas Known Associates Entertainment has optioned the rights for Ugly Betty, there has been attention focused on the TV series format, but for those who have been paying attention to the African market will know that this is just the latest announcement that highlights the ongoing popularity of TV series across the continent.
Throughout the three days there will be sessions focused on the role and importance of public broadcasters, each day a leading public broadcasters will be invited to discuss their creative and business strategies to lead their organisation into a digital and mobile future. These broadcasters include Radio Television Ivoirienne, British Broadcasting Service, and the Canadian Broadcasting Service.
Discop Markets General Manager Patrick Zuchowicki explained: “Discop Johannesburg 2018 will be an opportunity for broadcasters, premium cable channels, SVOD platforms and mobile operators to find for the first time a great choice of international TV series projects initiated outside Africa, in an advanced development stage and where Africa takes center stage.”
