Media Marketing Africa 2011
Following my announcement earlier for the upcoming AfricaCom Conference here’s the more in-depth information following the latest Media Press release and discussions on the topic with African Mirror Inc.
The question being asked here is as to how the move to digital broadcast and the invasion of new technologies would be affecting Media and Marketing in Africa in 2011 and beyond?
Media Marketing Africa 2011
On the broad topic of Media Marketing Africa in 2011 and the future, Nick Jotischky, Principal Analyst at Informa Media & Telecoms, organisers of the upcoming AfricaCast conference which is co-located with AfricaCom 2011 at the CTICC in Cape Town on 9 and 10 November, stated:
“With the market for television services in Africa growing exponentially year on year, the continent is on stand-by to experience far reaching changes and increased competition”.
In 2010, Sub-Saharan Africa had 34.5 million TV households and this is forecast to expand to at least 42.1 million by 2015. Currently, 3.5 million households are pay TV subscribers which represent a market penetration of 11%. However, new technologies (DTT, online and Mobile TV) and the impending switch to digital, this dominance by satellite based broadcasters will be severely challenged.
“Whilst challenging indeed, this new era is also exciting and stimulating” commented Jotischky. New telecoms, media and ICT services are affecting the lives of millions of ordinary Africans in a way never truly anticipated. “This affects how Governments, brands and all manner of organisations communicate with their audiences who are now becoming more sophisticated in their choices and demands” Jotischky continued.
Mobile Network Africa
One of these key changes and surely the most significant is the transition to digital television, including interactive channels which is still provoking much debate and question amongst many audience groups and which is set to happen in April 2012 in South Africa. The “digital migration” will result in the frequency spectrum currently used by analogue TV broadcasts to become available for other applications and is specifically of interest to the mobile network operators looking to expand their reach into rural areas and for installing new high speed technologies such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). AfricaCast 2011 will aim to address these issues that are still provoking consternation and debate, via a variety of panel discussions, case studies and presentations.
Linked to the demand for television services and the explosion of mobile communications on the continent, audiences for the first time are airing their voices and in an audible manner. They are not afraid to share their opinions and they have plenty of mediums in which to do so. But this is a two way street and the media now have unprecedented access to greater audience participation and their influence is vast.
Internet TV no longer a Pipe Dream
Internet TV is no longer a pipe dream. It is a reality appearing at a mobile phone near you soon. Increase in broadband penetration and speeds promoting a greater array of services such as connected verticals and entire weather systems of cloud based offerings; pull internet advertising strategies via the television or mobile phone that deliver exceptional content, incentives and worthwhile services, and true engagement with multiple audiences, are all actuality. The consumer choice is overwhelming. But the basic choice will be whether to switch on or off.
Governments, brands, agencies and corporates who adapt and embrace this new technology and communication epoch will be the ones to survive and prosper in this new dawn. Those who can remain connected across multiple platforms in a continuous conversation, which listen and hear what their audiences are demanding and needing and who deliver on these requirements, will be the ones ultimately benefiting and enduring.
Some of the burning topics that AfricaCast will cover include:
- Is Google disrupting or enhancing the market?
- How is Facebook providing innovative ways for Africans to use their mobile phones?
- What are the opportunities for 3D content in Africa?
- Are we employing the correct strategies for an increasingly converged environment?
- One more question – how will this new era affect you… shouldn’t you find out?
Shouldn’t we?
Get Tagged via Social Media Marketing
…and here we are, back to the future: Get TAGGED … this time via Social Media Marketing!
Food for thought… and weighing the positive with the negative. Definitely, Awareness needs to be created as to what we are actually “allowing”: the total TAGGING of the human race. . . Total Control…
Isn’t it?
With all the information we’re so willingly giving away, the Internet has already deprived us of all form of privacy turning us into translucent amoeba - so what can be done to at least preserve human dignity in our normal lives – or is this too late as the digital herd is on the go and – totally cool and for sure. . . unstoppable?
I just checked on Google: the names “DigitalSheep” and “DigitalGoats” are already taken – makes you think, doesn’t it?
Best is to find out… I will.
Source of information: AfricaCom
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Bianca, Please take this as friendly and not anything else. But it is very difficult if not impossible to read with your backgrounds! I will be back to have another look!
Thanks for passing by Tiaan.
My background is white Tiaan. I have a sophisticated slider that may be the problem due to slow connections on your end; I know that as well, esp. at certain times. But all is fine; I specially checked it. See other comment which confirms this.
Also Tiaan as you are zooming on Empire Avenue all day, this obviously gobbles up all your bandwidth! I would be unable to work on Photoshop that way; so focus is on one or the other.
We do need faster, better connections in SA for sure …. that’s what the conference is all about.
It is not impossible to read. Whats so difficult about typing “Ctrl A” ? Greetings from Berlin
Danke und … Gruesse nach Berlin ! Ich hab’s mir gerade nochmals angesehen – und alles ist fein.
Ich denke mal es liegt an langsamen Internet Verbindungen hier im Busch :) Kenne ich ja auch zur Genuege : 386 kbps ./. 16,000 drueben ist sozusagen ein kleiner Unterschied. Ich werde spaeter etwas ‘leichter’ im Ton berichten :).
[...] take note of my earlier posts on Media Marketing Africa HERE and Will AfricaCom be the Turning Point for Digital Africa [...]