Azteca, CMD link up for African net

MIPTV: Mexican network TV Azteca and Miami-based Cisneros Media Distribution (CMD) are partnering with digital distributor AfricaXP to launch a telenovela channel targeting English-speaking audiences in Africa.

Romanza+Africa will offer more than 3,000 hours of original programming from CMD and Azteca’s catalogues through AfricaXP’s digital distribution platforms, it was revealed at MipTV today.

“This unprecedented partnership with Azteca and AfricaXP reinforces our presence in Africa, a market where our proven telenovelas have performed well through the years, amassing a local following,” said Cesar Diaz, VP at Miami-based CMD.

“Now with the launch of Romanza+Africa, the telenovela will be at the forefront of the many audiovisual entertainment options available in the African market.”

The channel, which launches this month, will start with Azteca’s telenovela Catalina & Sebastian and CMD’s The Woman of My Life (La Mujer de Mi Vida) and Yearning to Love (Sueno Con Tu Amor), among others.

The initial focus will be on key markets such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Nigeria. However, the partners also confirmed they are working on opportunities in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Mauritius and The Seychelles.

“As multi-channel DTT and IPTV platforms roll out rapidly in Africa, there is growing demand for premium-themed channels and a number of broadcaster clients have expressed interest in a 24/7 telenovela channel,” said Craig Kelly, founder and CEO of AfricaXP, adding that the genre was “taking Africa by storm.”