Los Angeles – Following a strong increase in demand for exhibition space, Basic Lead has unveiled plans to expand the current capabilities at the forthcoming 9th edition of Discop Africa. At the same time, the premier multi-platform content event in Africa announced that it will be supporting Malaria No More, a nonprofit that’s determined to end malaria deaths in Africa.
More than 300 international sellers of finished TV content, adaptation rights and branded TV channels will convene at the event which takes place November 5-7 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg — a 20% increase above last year’s figures.
“Africa is the world’s fastest growing TV and online business marketplace. We estimate the Continent to be worth half a billion dollars in revenue for the international content business, twice as much as just three years ago,” commented Patrick Zuchowicki, General Manager of Basic Lead, the organisers of Discop Africa.
In an initiative to support its outreach, Discop Africa has signed on to support the organisation Malaria No More, which was founded in 2006 by business leaders Ray Chambers and Peter Chernin. Malaria No More will exhibit and deliver a presentation at the event in Johannesburg to highlight its work to more than 2000 delegates.
Gary Ginsburg, EVP Corporate Marketing & Communications at Time Warner Inc. and Board member of Malaria No More commented: “Malaria No More’s new partnership with Discop Africa presents the opportunity to leverage the power of media to raise awareness of malaria and save lives. Since 2000, the malaria mortality rate has fallen 51% among children under the age of five, but we still have our work cut out for us. As partners, we will encourage media leaders to sign on to support the campaign and rally their viewers to end malaria deaths.”
Special features, already part of the Discop Africa 2014 programme, will include a series of high level conferences assessing the current level of development of Television in Africa. The “20 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY / 20 YEARS OF TELEVISION IN AFRICA” summit will be organised in partnership with the Ministry of Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa.
