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Tag: StarTimes

  • Synpronize enters into multiple key African content deals in Ghana, South Africa, and for pan-Africa

    Synpronize enters into multiple key African content deals in Ghana, South Africa, and for pan-Africa

    MUMBAI: Nitin Michael and Hasnaa Descuns, co-founders of Synpronize, a Dubai-based content distribution and production company, announced that multiple program deals were entered into for Africa with eTV, Onua TV, and StarTimes. 

    Drama series Cello was licensed to Onua TV in Ghana. This intriguing tale explores an indecent proposal, following what happens when compelling circumstances prevent a cellist and her pianist husband from starting their life-long dream business project, an unscrupulous businessman steps in with an unscrupulous offer, and the couple find themselves torn between integrity and their desire for money. Cello is originally an Arabic production that aired on MBC which is the Middle East’s leading broadcast network. 

    eTV licensed romantic drama series Piya Naam Ka Diya (aka All for Love) that talks about a simple girl who falls in love with the wrong man without seeing true love that was right in front of her. It takes us on her journey of discovering her feelings, her goals and finding a balance in life.

    A deal was done with major African Pay TV platform, StarTimes for two drama series — Swaragini (aka A Tale of Two Sisters), a tale about the life of two half-sisters bought up witnessing the fierce rivalry of their family, especially their grandparents; and Gathbandhan (aka The Odd Couple) – a gripping story of two opposites: a gangster and a police officer and how their lives intertwine. These programs were originally in Hindi and telecast on one of India’s top-rated TV channels Colors.

    Hasnaa Descuns stated: “ Synpronize is thrilled to have such a great reception for our premium dramas in several African countries with great partners such as eTV, StarTimes, and Onua TV. Synpronize is expanding further into Africa and these partnerships are indicative of the great relationships that help us build our company reach and the high-production and compelling dramas will delight and engage audiences everywhere.

    Media General GH LTD, Ghana programs head Joel Hammond stated: “We are grateful to Nitin and Hasnaa for bringing us Cello for Onua TV. Synpronize is a trusted partner in the region and we look forward to a long and fruitful association. Our audiences are sure to enjoy this superbly produced drama series.”

    eTV content specialist Marli Schulze   added, “We are continuously scouring the globe in search of uplifting stories that will resonate with our discerning viewers. We are excited to test Piya Naam Ka Diya as a fine example of Pakistani-produced content.”

  • SES enables Chinese startimes to expand tv reach in Africa

    SES enables Chinese startimes to expand tv reach in Africa

    MUMBAI: SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announced today that StarTimes Communication Network Technology, China’s most influential system integrator, technology provider and network operator, has signed a 10-year contract on SES-5 at 5 degrees East to expand its media footprint in Africa and deliver direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast services across the continent.

    StarTimes, which is the fastest-growing digital TV operator Africa and has over 2.6 million digital terrestrial television (DTT) subscribers, also acquired SES’ 20% shareholding in South African pay-TV operator Top TV.

    The contract will see StarTimes utilise four transponders as of October 2013 and a fifth transponder from February 2014 to grow their DTH subscribers in Africa. The Chinese broadcaster will continue to broadcast TopTV on SES-5 by using three of the newly-contracted SES transponders that were formerly leased by ODM. The other two out of the five SES transponders contracted by StarTimes will be used to complement their DTT offering in remote and non-urban areas and grow their pay-TV business.  

    “The recent success of StarTimes’s strategic investment in ODM will allow us to reach new audiences in South Africa. The partnership with SES enables StarTimes to have a DTH platform in addition to the existing DTT and mobile TV (CMMB) platforms in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the high-powered SES-5 at the prime orbital location of 5 degrees East is ideal in overcoming the challenges of terrestrial coverage to reach large audiences. This will allow us to extend our broadcast reach across the continent and ensure excellent service and picture quality for our viewers,” said StarTimes Group Chairman and President Pang Xinxing.

    “We are honoured that StarTimes has chosen to work with us to complement their DTT business across Africa and to deliver more exciting content to Africa’s dynamic markets,” said Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer of SES. “The new partnership with StarTimes will illustrate how the combination of DTH and DTT is a key enabler in Africa’s migration to digital TV and also help set pace in the continent’s digital migration race.”