Showing posts with label Mo Abudu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mo Abudu. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

EbonyLife's Mo Abudu slams Amazon for axing African originals: 'shows a lack of respect for our continent'.


by Thinus Ferreira

The Nigerian producer and CEO of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu, is slamming Amazon Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios saying it shows "a lack of respect for our continent" after Amazon's shock decision to cull its Nigerian and South African content teams  and to abruptly cancel further African original content creation.

Amazon Prime Video has retrenched multiple content executives and staff it lured to join its video streaming service in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa as for Nigeria, based in London, after it rapidly ramped up plans over the past two years to create, produce and roll-out localised African Prime Video Originals.

Gone is Gideon Khobane who officially joined Amazon Prime Video Africa 7 months ago in July 2023 as director of Prime Video Africa. The fate of other executives who all jumped from MultiChoice to join Amazon Prime Video in Africa is still unclear.

Amazon is not willing to confirm whether Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu (head of Nigerian originals), Kaye Ann Williams (head of scripted series and movies for South African originals), and Candice Fangueiro (head of planning and programming for Africa) have also been let go, although insiders said that is the case.

Stephen Barber, head of PR for Amazon in the UK, in response to a media query, said Amazon can't provide "names of team members who have left the company".

Meanwhile shocked and angry producers in Nigeria and South Africa who have been developing and producing content are furious with Amazon Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, saying "promises were made and not kept".

A longtime South African producer said Amazon "damaged producers' trust and trust in the streamer".

"Nobody will trust them when they come and present plans again in future about wanting local content. People sat through presentations in South Africa and Nigeria where Amazon laid out their plans and promised to be different; to do things better and differently. Turns out – not."  

While Amazon Prime Video is drastically reigning in content spend in Africa and on African original content, insiders said that Netflix as part of a global realignment has also quietly started to reign in its content budget for Africa. In contrast, MultiChoice has however massively ramped up content spending for its new Showmax done in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal's Peacock, which is rolling out from today in app stores as a new video streaming service.

For the relaunch of the new Showmax, MultiChoice has 21 Showmax Originals that will debut over the course of February to lure potential subscribers to the revamped streamer.

Meanwhile, Mo Abudu who has produced African content for Sony and Netflix over the past few years is slamming Amazon Prime Video for deserting Africa and reneging on promises to ramp up spending on African originals.

"In recent times, we have witnessed the unfortunate departure of several international organisations from Nigeria and Africa, some marked by press statements that have, regrettably, shown a lack of respect for our continent," Mo Abudu says.

"In the face of these challenges, it is imperative that we, as Nigerians and Africans, rise above and build our own infrastructure, creating and serving our markets with pride and resilience. I firmly believe in the potential within us, and in the face of challenges, see opportunities for growth and self-reliance."

She's also praising video streamers and global players who have decided to stay in Africa and continue to invest in Africa's film and TV industry.

"To the international organisations that recognise our worth, we extend our heartfelt appreciation. Your decision to stay, partner, and collaborate with us is a testament to the shared commitment to not only growing the continent today but also for the generations that will follow."

"Let us embrace the challenges, celebrate the opportunities, and collectively contribute to the thriving and resilient future of our beloved continent. With hope and determination, we move!"


Tuesday, July 7, 2020

EbonyLife TV from Nigeria's Mo Abudu scrapped from MultiChoice's DStv in the rest of Africa from 31 July 2020.


by Thinus Ferreira

The relationship is over between MultiChoice and Nigeria's Mosunmola Abudu, known as Mo Abudu, with her linear TV channel, EbonyLife TV, that will terminate on DStv on 31 July 2020, and possibly not remain for longer on China's StarTimes and StarSat.

Mo Abudu has teamed up with the Netflix video streaming service that her EbonyLife production company now wants to produce content for, and she also wants to channel content through the video-on-demand service, EbonyLife ON.

EbonyLife will no longer get channel carriage revenue from MultiChoice.

MultiChoice has not made any announcement about the axing of EbonyLife TV from its DStv satellite pay-TV platform in the rest of Africa from the end of July after EbonyLife TV already got dumped in South Africa in June 2018.

In a social media announcement, Mo Abudu said: "Remember when we used to wait a whole week to watch our favourite TV shows? Well, those days are gone forever! Now, we can binge on the whole series if we want to. Therefore, we have decided that EbonyLife TV will no longer be available on DStv from 31 July 2020."

MultiChoice added EbonyLife TV in 2013 on DStv across Africa outside of South Africa, with the channel that was added a year later in 2014 to DStv for South African and Southern African DStv subscribers as well.

MultiChoice then dumped EbonyLife TV dumped it after 4 years at the end of June 2018 in South Africa and several other countries across Southern Africa because of its lackluster viewership and being a ratings failure after the content didn't resonate with pay-TV subscribers.

EbonyLife TV continued to be available as a TV channel on DStv in East and West African countries but the exclusivity clause lapsed and EbonyLife TV that switched and added carriage on StarTimes since August 2018.

With EbonyLife TV getting completely erased from MultiChoice Africa at the end of July 2020, it's not yet clear whether, or for how long, EbonyLife TV will remain available as a linear TV channel on the pay-TV platform of China's StarSat in South Africa and on StarTimes across the rest of Africa.

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Netflix signs output production deal to get more Nigerian content from Africa with Mo Abudu; EbonyLife will produce 2 original series along with films and licence more existing content for the video streamer.


by Thinus Ferreira

While TV and film producers in South Africa and across Africa continue to struggle to make contact with Netflix to pitch or to try and find out how the video streamer's commissioning structure and process works, Netflix has tied up more low-hanging fruit in a content deal with Nigeria's Mo Abudu and her EbonyLife outfit.

Mo Abudu, through her production company, EbonyLife, will create two Netflix Original series for the video streamer, along with Netflix-branded films and series that Netflix will licence from EbonyLife.

These projects will include the on-screen adaptations of literary works by two Nigerian authors - a series based on contemporary author, Lola Shoneyin's best-selling debut novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, as well as a film adaptation of Death And The King's Horseman, a play by the author and playwright Wole Soyinka.

Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix's Africa boss for original series, says in a statement that "We're thrilled about this first-of-its-kind partnership in Africa that will bring some of Nigeria, and Africa's most iconic storytelling to screen. We look forward to supporting Mo as she brings all these diverse Nigerian stories to the world".

Ben Amadasun, Netflix director of licensing and co-productions for Africa, says in the statement that "We believe that more people deserve to see their lives reflected on screen and for that to happen, we need to make sure there's a wide variety of content that caters to our members' diverse tastes".

"Our members around the world have been enjoying some of the licensed titles from EbonyLife like The Wedding Party, Chief Daddy, Castle & Castle and Fifty. I'm excited to continue our licensing partnership with the addition of Netflix branded films titles that will grow the variety of quality Nigerian stories on our service."

Mo Abudu, EbonyLife Media CEO, says in the statement "This unprecedented partnership is testament to the Netflix's investment in African storytelling and we at EbonyLife are grateful and excited about the opportunity to work together with the Netflix teams led by Dorothy and Ben to deliver a slate of unique and riveting stories from Nigeria over the next few years for Netflix audiences around the world."


African producers' growing frustration
While Netflix has announced some Netflix Originals for Africa, African producers and production companies - especially in South Africa, Africa's most developed TV and film market - continue to voice frustration about Netflix's Amsterdam-based approach with picking and commissioning content from the African continent.

Producers and production companies say they don't know how to make contact with Netflix's commissioning division and executives, don't know why only certain producers and production companies are favoured by the streamer for cherry-picked projects, and that they would also like to bring and pitch possible projects to Netflix as they do to local broadcasters and pay-TV channels like MultiChoice and M-Net.

Production companies and media in Nigeria and South Africa said they were surprised and shocked to find out weeks later that Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer, and Dorothy Ghettuba were both in Africa and in these countries in late February 2020.

Producers and media said that they were taken aback that Netflix chose not to do general media interviews with the executives to tout its presence or to share their company's forward-looking commercial intentions, and also excluded producers from possible educational meetings or meet-and-greets about how to pitch to Netflix and how to do business with the streamer.

A month later Netflix appointed Marang Setshwaelo since March 2020 as its new publicity director for Netflix Originals for the sub-Saharan Africa region.

"Netflix looks clueless and out-of-touch, firstly when it comes to the creatives in Africa that do exist and who want to do business with it, and secondly a proper avenue for talent to reach them. If you're a company like us Netflix doesn't know about you and there's no way to get your ideas or suggestions to them that we know of," said a longtime producer.

"It's ridiculous that Netflix in Africa only reaches out to people they seem to know of and isn't making effort or helping emerging producers to know how to get in touch with them or what they want," said another independent producer.

Monday, July 2, 2018

After losing carriage in Southern Africa, Mo Abudu's EbonyLife TV also loses its exclusive carriage agreement with MultiChoice Africa on the rest of the African continent, switches to China's StarTimes.


After Mo Abudu's EbonyLife TV (DStv 165) channel got dumped from MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa, and the other countries across Southern Africa, at the end of June, EbonyLife TV is now jumping to StarTimes with the Chinese pay-TV operator that is active in Africa that is picking up EbonyLife TV from August.

EbonyLife TV is losing is exclusivity on MultiChoice Africa's DStv, although the channel will remain available on DStv in parts of East Africa and in West Africa like Nigeria where the channel is most-watched.

EbonyLife TV has however signed with China's StarTimes to carry its Nigerian entertainment offering. 

What it means is that Mo Abudu's channel will have dual carriage in Nigeria on DStv and StarTimes Nigeria, as well as on DStv and StarTimes in other West and East African countries. The big switch is in Southern Africa where EbonyLife TV will only be available on StarTimes which has a smaller audience reach than what DStv has.

MultiChoice told TVwithThinus last week that EbonyLife TV is being removed from DStv in South Africa and across Southern Africa because the channel's content doesn't resonate enough with DStv subscribers, saying "EbonyLife TV resonates the most with our customers in Nigeria, which is why it will only be available there from 1 July".

It's not yet clear whether EbonyLife TV that was on DStv in South Africa, will become available on StarSat - StarTimes's South African operations. StarSat, asked on Monday whether EbonyLife will be added, told TVwithThinus it will have to hear from StarTimes' headquarters in Beijing, China.  

EbonyLife TV is also launching the EbonyLife ON app, a subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service making the channel's content available directly to consumers.

In a statement EbonyLife CEO, Mo Abudu, said she was proud of the end of the exclusive channel carriage agreement with MultiChoice and that EbonyLife TV is switching to the StarTimes that is "a force to be reckoned with".

"EbonyLife TV is proud to announce that from 1 August 2018 they will be broadcasting on the StarTimes network thereby ending its exclusive arrangement with DStv," says EbonyLife TV.

"This is an exciting time for us. StarTimes is a force to be reckoned with in Africa. It is a privilege for EbonyLife to have an additional home with the network. Together with the global reach of EbonyLife ON, we will have the potential for millions of more people to enjoy our gripping dramas, riveting talk and fun entertainment shows."

Justin Zhang, managing director of StarTimes, says "it made sense to include them in the StarTimes family and to continue delighting customers with engaging, original content".

Justin Zhang says "this collaboration is a win-win for both parties – StarTimes will improve its offering by providing an additional, first-rate channel to users and EbonyLife TV gets an opportunity to broadcast to an even greater number of viewers".

The Nigeria-based channel, which was founded in 2013, now produces 1,000 hours of English-language content a year.

EbonyLife TV that launched in 2013 and was added in South Africa in 2014, is Nigerian based and produces around 1 000 hours of English language TV content annually.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

MultiChoice to axe Mo Abudu's EbonyLife TV channel from end of June from DStv in South Africa and across Southern Africa after less than 4 years after ratings failure.


MultiChoice is set to axe media mogul Mo Abudu's EbonyLife TV (DStv 165) channel from the end of June from its DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and several other countries across Southern Africa following lackluster viewership.

The dumping of EbonyLife TV comes less than 4 years since the channel was added in South Africa after the female-skewed channel failed to make inroads with South and Southern African viewers.

After June EbonyLife TV will continue to be available as a TV channel on DStv in East and West African countries like Nigeria, but is disappearing for DStv subscribers in countries like South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho and Malawi.

MultiChoice Africa launched EbonyLife TV in July 2013 on DStv across Africa outside of South Africa, with the channel that was added a year later in September 2014 for South African viewers.

The entertainment and lifestyle TV channel, run from Nigeria with Mo Abudu as CEO and executive chairperson, however failed to resonate with South and Southern African viewers with these DStv subscribers who struggled to relate to the heavily Nigerian influenced entertainment programming line-up.

The axing will curtail what Mo Abudu launched to be "Africa's first global black entertainment and lifestyle network" that now becomes a regional channel from July.

Mo Abudu's EbonyLife TV reps didn't respond to media enquiries TVwithThinus made this week regarding the axing of EbonyLife in South Africa that will stop airing on 30 June.

MultiChoice in response to a media enquiry regarding the removal of EbonyLife TV told TVwithThinus that it is "working hard to increase the entertainment value on DStv, specific to each region across Africa. EbonyLife TV resonates the most with our customers in Nigeria, which is why it will only be available there from 1 July".

"For customers in areas outside of Nigeria who will no longer receive EbonyLife TV, there are a number of other channels that cover entertainment and lifestyle content aimed at an African audience - 1Magic (DStv 103), BET (DStv 129), Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), SpiceTV (DStv 190), Fashion One (DStv 178 and the Africa Magic channels."

Thursday, November 5, 2015

EbonyLife TV acquires the TV rights from CBS to remake the American drama series Dynasty and Melrose Place as African versions with black stars.

Following a black remake of Disney's Desperate Housewives for Nigeria, EbonyLife TV (DStv 165) now plans to tackle both the 80's series Dynasty and the 90's series Melrose Place after having acquired the format rights to these American dramas from CBS Studios International.

While the African remake of Desperate Housewives wasn't that popular and didn't get a big publicity push from EbonyLife TV, the entertainment and lifestyle channel is forging ahead with more black versions of former American TV shows which it wants to show in several African countries through its channel on DStv.

"We're highly pleased to have acquired the format rights for Melrose Place and Dynasty, two of the most iconic and unforgettable series from CBS Studios International," says Mo Abudu, the CEO and executive chairperson of EbonyLife TV.

"This is a first for CBS Studios International's scripted formats and we are thrilled to be working with EbonyLife TV to develop these two iconic series for the African market," says Roxanna Pompa, the vice-president for international sales and production at CBS Studios International.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Bonang Matheba dropped, Lerato Kganyago and Pearl Thusi added as the South African talk show hosts of Moments on EbonyLife TV.


Bonang Matheba has been dropped and replaced with Lerato Kganyago and Pearl Thusi in the new talk show Moments starting today on EbonyLife TV (DStv 165).

Bonang Matheba would have been seen in the new Moments with Mo talk show spin-off simply entitled Moments, but was barred from finalising the deal after extending her existing Top Billing work on SABC3 to become one of the talk show presenters of the weekday talk show Afternoon Express which started at the beginning of May.

"We wanted to work with her but unfortunately she has a talk show on SABC3 whose format is the same as ours, so we couldn't proceed because it was a conflict of interest," says Sandra Amadio, head of entertainment at EbonyLife TV in a statement.

EbonyLifeTV turns two years old today and is launching Moments as a spin-off talk show from Mo Abudu's Moments with Mo which EbonyLife TV calls "Africa's first and only syndicated daily talk show".

Moments will closely mirror Moments with Mo in structure and style.

Mo Abudu, who is also the EbonyLifeTV CEO, will now only "appear occasionally for only a limited number of very important interviews," says EbonyLife TV. Moments with Mo will have fewer episodes as Moments become the main talk show.

Moments will be broadcast in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. Lerato Kganyago and Pearl Thusi will only be seen in South Africa as would have been Bonang Matheba.

Earlier reports erroneously reported that Bonang Matheba would have been seen continentally on EbonyLife TV but it's not true.

Each of the four countries get their own local talk show presenters for the Moments' spin-off, with Wanjira Longaue and Amina Abdi presenting Moments in Kenya, Berla Mundi and Ama K. Abebrese presenting the version in Ghana and Bolanle Olukanni, Toke Makinwa and Michelle Dede the talk show trio of Moments in Nigeria.

Each of the spin-off's versions will also have its own guests.

"We are excited to see the Moments with Mo brand expand across the continent of Africa," says Mo Abudu.

"The purpose behind the creation of Moments is not only to connect more with audiences across the continent as well as offer a much wider and more divergent platform for truly pan African conversations, it is also calculated to be an exponential brand extension strategy targeted at delivering greater brand visibility and larger market shares," says Mo Abudu.

"With nine beautiful, intelligent and stylish presenters spread across four African countries, Moments is set to capture an even wider audience by connecting Africa like never before," says Damilola Amele, the series producer.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

EbonyLife TV channel extends its reach to South Africa and Southern Africa on DStv from 10 September.

MultiChoice is making EbonyLife TV (DStv 165) available to DStv subscribers in South Africa and Southern Africa from 10 September, just over a year after the black entertainment and lifestyle TV channel launched on 1 July 2013 on DStv in West, East and Central Africa.

At the time MultiChoice said there's no plans to launch EbonyLife TV in South Africa, although insiders said EbonyLifeTV would launch by the end of 2013 in South Africa, but it took a year longer.

"We're extremely excited about EbonyLife TV's extension into the Southern African and South African markets, barely a year after our launch," says Mo Abudu, the executive chairperson and CEO of EbonyLife TV in a statement.

 "This expansion is due to our success in the rest of Africa. We're proud of the fact that we are 100% homegrown," says Mo Abudu.