French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa continues to develop. This development is driven by the dynamism of Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, two countries experiencing significant and sustained growth.
In this context, audiovisual and media players have been able to strengthen their presence on the continent and support the development of their activities.
A look back at the events that marked the media world in 2019.
New television channels
December 2019 saw the launch of NCI (Nouvelle Chaine Ivoirienne), the first private Ivorian television channel on DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) after A+ Ivoire, which began broadcasting last January. The new channel is positioned as a premium general-interest channel and intends to offer viewers a program schedule with a distinctly Ivorian character. Although the three other new channels authorized to broadcast on DTT, RTI 3, LifeTV, and 7infos, have not yet officially begun broadcasting, the arrival of this new player is profoundly changing the Ivorian audiovisual landscape.
Read also: NCI shows off and takes center stage
2019 also saw the launch of new television channels beyond the borders of Côte d'Ivoire. On June 8, Cameroon's public television station officially announced the launch of CRTV Sports & Entertainment. This new thematic channel is part of a vast project led by CRTV since 2017 as part of its transition to digital. In Senegal, the E-media group launched the iTV channel on DTT.
Read also: CRTV Sports & Entertainment enters the audiovisual landscape
Major players continue to grow
With more than 3.5 million subscribers in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa, CANAL+ has continued to grow and strengthen its presence in the audiovisual landscape, particularly in the Nollywood industry, one of the most prolific film industries in the world. In 2019, the group announced the acquisition of the production, content distribution, and channel publishing activities of IROKO PARTNERS, thereby strengthening its activities in content produced in Nigeria, which is increasingly appealing to African audiences. In addition to new programs that have appeared on its channels, such as the series Oasis
, L'amour à 200 mètres
, and the first African version of Fort Boyard
, CANAL+ announced at the end of the year the launch of ten new African and international television channels, including CANAL+ ELLES, a new channel dedicated to women. These new developments demonstrate the group's commitment to local production, supported by an agreement signed at the end of the year with Mediawan to create a joint venture dedicated to the production of original French-language content for an African audience.
Read also: CANAL+ ELLES speaks to women's hearts
On the competition side, Startimes also continued its "Satellite TV Access for 10,000 African Villages" project, which extends to many countries in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. Recently launched in Côte d'Ivoire, this project is part of StarTimes' strategy to support the transition of African countries to digital.
TV5Monde has taken advantage of this year to strengthen its digital presence. In addition to creating audiovisual content, the company has announced the upcoming launch of an international French-language digital video-on-demand platform. The catalog will include Canadian, Quebecois, French, Swiss, Belgian, and African programs from TV5MONDE's partner channels. This new project aims to propel the channel's digital shift and support French-language audiovisual creation internationally.
Read also: TV5Monde launches a web creation label
Finally, the Ivorian communications group VOODOO, led by Fabrice Sawegnon (president of Life TV), took advantage of 2019 to expand its media offering by acquiring the Lagardère group's two VIBE radio stations, based in Dakar and Abidjan, through its subsidiary LARI. This is a key step for VOODOO, which aims to become the leading communications and media group in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa.
Read also: Is the M6 group going to launch a television channel in French-speaking Africa?
African and local production in the spotlight
Although financing and training are major challenges for the development of audiovisual production, many players who produce and/or acquire programs in French-speaking Africa have focused on Africanizing content to appeal to the African middle class.
In 2019, CANAL+ continued its commitment to creating original African content. After "Invisibles," the first series produced on the continent, CANAL+ once again played the original creation card with Sakho et Mangane,
a 100% African police series.
Reality TV is gradually gaining ground in French-speaking Africa… A concept that is finding more and more of an audience. After Cameroon Top Model
, launched in 2017, two new reality TV shows have emerged this year. StarTimes has chosen the theme of love for its concept Bonjour mon idéal
, the first reality TV dating show launched in Ivory Coast, while CANAL+ has launched the first Gabonese reality TV show dedicated to sport, Basketball Academy
.
Africa is also the new challenge for the giant Netflix, which has been present on the continent since 2016. It is a major competitor for local players, even if it still has a limited presence in French-speaking Africa. In 2019, the world leader in VOD officially launched its African series production with its first original African creation, Queen Sono, which will be broadcast soon, and Blood and Water, currently in production. Between acquisitions and original creations, the arrival of Netflix in French-speaking Africa could be a real opportunity for local content producers, where other players might see a threat.
Feature – Cinema in French-speaking Africa
Towards a change in the telecoms landscape in Africa?
October 2019 marked the arrival of the operator Free in Senegal.
One year after the dispute between the SAGA Africa Holdings Limited consortium and the Wari group over its sale, Tigo, Senegal's second-largest mobile operator, is changing its name to Free Senegal.
This is a first on the continent, where the telecoms sector is experiencing continuous growth in mobile service penetration despite facing numerous challenges related to digital development.
The SAGA Africa holding company, controlled by Yerim Sow, Xavier Niel, and Hassanein Hiridjee, is now establishing itself as the country's second-largest mobile operator alongside its competitor Orange.
It should be remembered that in 2007, Free shook up the French telecoms market with its low-cost offers. The arrival of this brand in Senegal represents a major step forward for Internet access for Senegalese consumers, but also a step forward that could well lead to a reshaping of the telecoms landscape in Africa, both in the West and in the East.
Read also: Interview with the McCann Dakar team for the launch of Free
Discover – GAFA, Uberization, e-commerce… Africa in the digital age!