Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Glow TV launches on DStv. DJs and Celebrities celebrate at launch of LekkerTV. Xamarin and Full Stack partner for rapid, cost-effective app development in Africa. ROI Africa ‘pick of the crop’ on Drupal. Panda Security Grows Base of Cloud Partners in East Africa. Turrito Networks scoops up Vodacom CEO Award. FIVESTAR PR appointed to launch BOCCA Restaurant. Tribeca Public Relations signs ASUS. Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking looking for a COO. Angelcare ex-president joins South African Snuza to boost US market-share.
Who’s making moves
Glow TV launches on DStv
Glow TV will be available on MultiChoice’s DStv channel 167 as of 17 November 2014. The channel brings a wide range of high quality internationally produced programmes to South African audiences.
“Our ongoing research and focus groups show that many South Africans are interested in eastern-inspired content, and so we’re delighted to now be able to reach a wider audience through MultiChoice’s digital satellite TV service,” said Yusuf Nabee, Glow’s channel head. He added that with nine different genres and no less than 24 different shows, “Glow is unlike any other eastern channel; we’re an entertainment channel with broad appeal.”
The channel, owned by Kagiso Media, will be available on the DStv Family, Compact, Extra and Premium packages. Kagiso Media Deputy Group CEO Omar Essack explained, “The launch of the TV channel, a little more than a year ago, signaled the Kagiso Media group’s entry into television. Not only has this bold move to grow new market places presented South African viewers with a unique new entertainment option but it has further diversified our media offering for advertisers.”
In keeping with the wide variety on offer, Glow TV introduces genre themed weekday evenings – comedy Mondays, travel Tuesdays, lifestyle Wednesdays, talk Thursdays and crime/drama Fridays. To complement Glow’s launch on DStv, the channel will be adding 11 new shows to their line-up in the month of November 2014.
DJs and Celebrities celebrate at launch of LekkerTV
Jacaranda FM had a studio filled with South African celebrities, musicians, TV stars and media moguls when it officially launched LekkerTV in partnership with KykNET in Midrand.
Hosted in a mock TV studio with guests who included Nicholis Louw, Ricus Nel, Liza Bronner, Nadine and NRG, the event introduced LekkerTV presenters Rian van Heerden, Janina Oberholzer, MorneJK, Frankie du Toit and Martin Bester who were all on hand to talk about this unique and exciting offering.
LekkerTV, which had its on-air debut on KykNET on Saturday 4 October, is a collaboration between Jacaranda FM and KykNET. It offers viewers nine hours of non-stop music and entertainment, offering Jacaranda fans a new way to interact with their favourite presenters.
Xamarin and Full Stack partner for rapid, cost-effective app development in Africa
Cape Town based software start-up, Full Stack, has announced that it has signed a deal with Xamarin, the global leader in cross-platform mobile enterprise software development, to become the first Xamarin Premier Consulting Partner in Africa.
Andrew La Grange, co-founder of Full Stack, says, “We chose to work with Xamarin as it’s the only platform that lets you develop one mobile solution and apply it to all handsets. This means we save time and money because we only need to build the solution once.”
Full Stack has been expanding rapidly as it creates mobile solutions for its ever-growing client base that includes businesses such as AndPeople and OurHood; with Xamarin playing a big part of that strong growth. “Customers want native apps, but they need development houses that can deliver those apps within a reasonable timeline and budget without compromising the quality or execution,” says La Grange.
Xamarin is the technology behind globally successful mobile apps such as Rdio, Wordament and Flipboard.
ROI Africa ‘pick of the crop’ on Drupal
One of South Africa’s foremost media intelligence service providers, ROiAfrica’s website www.roiafrica.com has just been listed on the Drupal Site, as Editor’s Pick for the “best looking” sites. ROi Africa’s site was developed by Adappt UK, headed up by Jon Antony, combining technical expertise, creativity and passion. ROi Africa is a unique company with a unique site, which can inspire innovative use of the Drupal technology.
According to ROi Africa managing director, Tonya Khoury, “The ROi Africa site was developed specifically to drive traffic to start a sales conversation, but also to showcase the ability of the smart technology we provide.”
Drupal, an open source content management platform, powers millions of websites and applications worldwide. Drupal is used as a back-end framework of at least 2.1% of sites worldwide. It allows non-technical users to add and edit content without knowing anything about web design. This is perfect for an organisation, like ROi Africa, which operates in the media industry, and need to constantly update their site to link back to main news and social media items.
Panda Security grows base of cloud partners in East Africa
Panda Security continues to increase its footprint in Africa recently appointing BA Internet Solutions as a premier partner. Panda Security and BA Internet see the partnership as an opportunity to grow the adoption of cloud technology within the region and provide Kenyans with innovative security and management solutions, as well as superior customer service.
“We are very excited to have an additional partner in the Kenyan region, especially one with such ambition. BA Internet has shown true dedication by ensuring that several candidates complete our eCampus (technical and sales) courses and focus on providing knowledgeable feedback to customers.” explains Jeremy Matthews, country manager for Panda Security.
BA Internet Solutions is an integrated IT Network Security and Software Development company. They have set out to change the misconceptions that people have regarding cloud technology and to assist companies in avoiding cybercrime/hacking through the provision of integrated network security software.
Turrito Networks scoops up Vodacom CEO Award
Turrito Networks, a converged communication provider under the MICROmega Group of companies, has been awarded the Vodacom CEO Award for Best Enterprise Channel at the network operator’s annual gala event.
The award, which is one of only five for the year, recognises the role that Turrito Networks has played in not only bolstering the Vodacom brand, but also the calibre of client that it has brought on to the network. It also takes into account the quantity of sales generated over the course of the year.
This is a significant win for us, and acts as a reminder that companies like Turrito Networks, have a big role to play in delivering value not only to customers, but also partners like Vodacom,” says commercial director for Turrito Networks, Louis Jardim.
In 2012 and 2013, Turrito Networks was awarded the Partner of the Year for Vodacom Business. The 2014 CEO Award marks the first time that a convergence partner has been recognised at Vodacom Group level
Who’s won what
FIVESTAR PR appointed to launch BOCCA Restaurant
Hospitality specialist FIVESTAR PR has been appointed to launch Neil Grant’s latest venture, BOCCA, on Cape Town’s famous foodie street, Bree Street (and the corner of Wale Street).
Offering casual Italian fare in a relaxed setting, executive chef Annemarie Steenkamp, who was responsible for sister restaurant Burrata scooping the EAT OUT Italian Restaurant of the Year in 2013, has designed exciting new modern Italian dishes for the Bocca menu.
Tribeca Public Relations signs ASUS
Tribeca Public Relations (Tribeca) has welcomed ASUS, one of the world’s top three consumer notebook brands, to its client base. ASUS, one of the world’s leading technology companies, makes products in almost every conceivable category of information technology, including PC components and peripherals, notebooks, tablets, servers and smartphones.
Tribeca won the ASUS South Africa account over four other contenders in a competitive pitch process, based on its experience in managing media relations and profiling technology brands such as Epson, Toshiba, Garmin and HTC. Keri Krug, senior account director at Tribeca, will lead the ASUS account.
“This new win adds to Tribeca’s growing client portfolio, which has expanded significantly during 2014 with new clients as diverse as Cathay Pacific, Net1 Mobile Solutions, Imperial Auto and the FNB Whisky Live Festival coming on-board,” says Tribeca co-owner Cian Mac Eochaidh. “We have expanded our staff complement to manage this growth and will continue to do so in the coming months.”
What’s out there
Big Fish looking for COO
Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking, the multi-award winning NGO film school, is looking for a Chief Operations Officer (COO). The suitable candidate must have commitment to empowering young people and an understanding and appreciation of the need for ‘social justice filmmaking’. The successful candidate will be in a position to demonstrate management across a range of operational issues from overseeing the development of proposals; finance; marketing; statutory requirements; presentations; technical and HR.
This position requires an individual who can interact with stakeholders from government to funders both international and local as well as represent Big Fish at functions, events, conferences etc. An understanding of training and / or filmmaking, networking and fundraising will prove helpful.
We would expect the successful applicant to demonstrate ability and / or have an understanding of:
- Management accounts
- All statutory requirements
- Board meetings
- Adherence to BEE
- Taxation
- Policies
- Handling HR issues
- Ensuring contractual obligations with funders and clients maintained
- Control the support functions and back office
- Ensure facilities and equipment well maintained
- Ensure archives maintained
- Identify possible funders
- Within two years would be able to take on CEO position
The following qualifications are a pre-requisite for the position:
- Post graduate qualification
- Minimum 15 years’ experience with 5 years in a management position
- AA position
In addition to the aforementioned, our chosen incumbent must be able to:
- Demonstrate attention to detail
- Work under extreme pressure
- Lead by example
Please forward a brief CV to Dr Melanie Chait. If needed additional information and supporting documentation will be requested. mailto:chaitm@bigfish.org.za
Who’s moved where
Angelcare ex-president joins South African Snuza to boost US market-share
Snuza, the Cape Town-based portable baby monitor company has announced that Sylvie Charette, former president of Holding Angelcare Inc in Canada, has been appointed as president of Snuza Inc, the new Canadian based agency for Snuza products. Charette will manage the markets in both the US and Canada.
Charette established herself as an industry leader in the baby technology sector during her 15 year tenure with Angelcare. In that time, she grew Angelcare into the world’s largest refill manufacturer as well as one of the most successful baby monitor and diaper disposal producers in the world.
On her move to Snuza, a significantly smaller company in terms of revenue and market-share, but which has developed a solid reputation with its range of clip-on baby monitors, she says “I am thrilled to be joining Snuza, as I have long admired their brand and the work they have done internationally, as well as the recognition they have received for product innovation.
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