Filmmakers to reap more from pay TV

By STEVENS MUENDO

Local filmmakers have a reason to smile as the demand for local productions increases. Pay TV Dstv is ahead of the pack evident from their new channels, which starts airing local packages starting April 16, 2012.

AfricaMagic Entertainment, a 24-hour channel dedicated to glossy soaps, glam drama series, glitzy lifestyle shows, great comedy, grade-A movies, gorgeous talk-show queens and gripping reality TV is one of the five new Africa oriented channels set to hit the screens on the said date, MondayBlues has learned.

According to the Mnet Africa Managing Director Biola Alabi, the new channel will be home to some of Africa’s biggest and popular productions including the Kenyan produced Changes and The Patricia Show, Jacob’s Cross, which also features Kenyan actors, Big Brother Africa, Mashariki Mix, 53 Extra and Jara.

The new shift seems to have given East and Central Africa productions more space reducing the long time dominance by West and Southern African productions, which seemed to dictate subscriber’s viewership.

"It makes business sense to listen to your consumers when they express their needs and this is what we’ve done. 2012 is going to be a flagship year for AfricaMagic. We want it to be remembered as the year African viewers pushed forward a revolution in television, making African content the star of African screens," said Biola.

The other new exciting channels include AfricaMagic Movies 1, a non-stop African movie entertainment channel, AfricaMagic Movies, AfricaMagic and AfricaMagic World.

During a recent media gala held in Nairobi, MultiChoice Kenya General Manager Stephen Isaboke called upon local film producers to take advantage of the new openings, which could translate to millions in term of production earnings.

In fact, MondayBlues can confirm that Mnet is in the process of acquiring airing rights for some of the popular production as well as fresh content produced by local filmmakers.

Kenyan international football ace Dennis Oliech seemed to take his relationship with his college girlfriend (name withheld) to the next level. After spending a weekend in Kampala last year, the big spender booked his squeeze a luxurious Easter holiday in Denmark where the two were expected to blossom their romantic relationship.

However, the adventure was put on a temporary hold last Friday after the girl — who has been living at the star’s leafy suburb Lavington residence since January — failed to secure travel documents from the Danish embassy in Nairobi.

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