Category: News

University of Southampton hosts International Women’s Day Lecture, Mfon Ekpo as Keynote Speaker

In celebration of the socio-economic, technological, cultural, and political achievement of women and International Women’s Day, University of Southampton hosted a lecture with Mfon Ekpo– founding partner and an Executive Director of the John Maxwell– as the keynote speaker.

Titled, Southampton Inspiring Women: International Women’s Day and hosted by Vice President (Operations) of the University of Southampton, Wendy Appleby, the series celebrated some of the most inspiring women from Southampton’s own academic and alumni community who have recorded notable success in a variety of sectors both nationally and globally.

Mfon Ekpo, the keynote speaker, is an award-winning human behaviour, performance coach, author and alumna for her contribution to leadership, innovation, her support for Women in Tech and international award-winning work in transforming mindsets through coaching across Africa.

Other speakers included:

· University of Southampton Academic & Alumna Dr Nisreen Alwan MBE, a British–Iraqi public health researcher and an Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Southampton. Nisreen was named amongst other inspiring and influential women from around the world in the BBC 100 women 2020 list. She was also awarded an MBE for services to Medicine and Public Health in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2021 on her research on Long COVID during the COVID19 pandemic.

· Alumna Lorna Tilbian dubbed the “Queen of the media”, was formerly the Executive Director and Head of Media at Numis Corporation PLC. With a distinguished career, having been ranked No.1 Media Analyst by Institutional Investor and Thomson Reuters Extel from 1987-2012, Lorna has served as a Cabinet Ambassador (an Ambassador for Creative Britain) for the Department of Culture Media & Sport. She now sits as the Chairman of Dowgate VCapital Stockbrokers and on the boards of Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc, Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc, M&C Saatchi Plc and Rightmove Plc.

The 60-minute lecture held on Tuesday 8 March 2022, International Women’s Day

TEMS NOMINATED AS GLOBAL MUSIC STAR FOR NICKELODEON KID’S CHOICE AWARDS 2022

Lagos, 10 March 2022: Nigerian singer-songwriter, Temilade ‘Tems’ Openiyi has been announced as a nominee in the Global Music Star category for the 2022 edition of the slimiest Award show ever, the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. The award show is taping live from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and will premiere on NickToons DStv Channel 308 on Wednesday, 13 April 2022, at 13:30 WAT/14:30 CAT.

With her remarkable global hits and outstanding performances and collaborations, Tems has been raking in award after award, and it appears she may be adding the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for Global Music Star to her growing list of accomplishments soon.

“Tems reminds us of why we set out on a journey to reimagine, reshape and rebrand Africa,” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Paramount in Africa. “African stars like her are living proof of the rich and diverse talent that exists in Africa. Elevating African talent on a global level is the heartbeat of our brands.”

“Shining a light on talent on our continent will continue to be part of our vision. We are glad that today, we can spotlight the body of work of a vibrant African talent like Tems.”

Tems is nominated alongside English best-selling music artiste, Adele; Latino fan-favourite, Camilo; Australian singer and record producer, Tones and I; Asian boy band, BTS; European superstar, Rosalía and North American sweetheart, Olivia Rodrigo. “We have long believed that African creatives such as Tems have the power to put the continent on the map and we’re excited to see this vision coming to life. Her nomination as Global Music Star for Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards is evidence that African creatives have what it takes to take on the global stage and more importantly to share African stories with the world, in this case through music. We are proud to be a part of this through offering a platform for creative showcasing and we wish Tems all the best at the awards,” said Georginah Machiridza, Executive Head Content Strategy & 3rd Party Channels at MultiChoice.

Alongside the Global Music Star Category, the 2022 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards boast other categories, including Favourite Breakout Artiste, Favourite Music Group, Favourite Music Group, Favourite Movie Actor, Favourite Female TV star and Favourite Reality show, amongst others.

Other African categories for the 2022 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and details on how Africans can get involved and vote will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit KidsChoiceAwards.com for more information.

Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2022 is sponsored by The LEGO® Group, the Kirby and the Forgotten Land™ game, Lunchables, and Olive Garden®.

Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2022 is produced by Nickelodeon Productions and overseen by Ashley Kaplan, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Unscripted & Digital Franchise Studio; Paul J Medford, Vice President, Unscripted Current Series; Luke Wahl, Vice President, Unscripted Creative; and Jennifer Bryson, Vice President, Production, Tentpoles, Events & Music & Specials. Michael Dempsey serves as executive producer, with Magda Liolis, Andria Parides, Kathryn Rickey and Greg Sills serving as co-executive producers. The show is directed by Glenn Weiss.

Amstel Malta to spotlight high-flying career women in celebration of International Women’s Day

In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2022, Nigeria’s leading Malt brand, Amstel Malta will be spotlighting the achievements of young global leader and entrepreneur, Ife Durosinmi-Etti, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, a renowned actress, and Oluwatosin Olaseinde, Founder of Money Africa as part of its #BreakTheBias campaign.

 

This Campaign which was launched to raise awareness about gender equality in the country seeks to showcase women across various sectors who have broken biases in male-dominated industries as an affirmation of its commitment to recognising the global cultural, corporate, and economic achievements of women, as well as promoting gender parity in the country.

 

Speaking on the campaign, Aminah Jagun, Senior Brand Manager, Amstel Malta said, “This year’s International Women’s Day calls for action to challenge and point out gender bias, prejudices and inequality and promote a world full of gender equality, free from stereotypes, discrimination and other biases.”

 

“This is why for us at Amstel Malta we have made a commitment to celebrate the success stories of women who are excelling in their fields against all odds. We believe that these stories will educate, inspire, and motivate the next generation of African Women,” she concluded.

 

Through innovative brand campaigns and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of, Amstel Malta continues to inspire the next generation of Nigerian women while igniting positive change within the society and the nation at large.

MTV Shuga series premieres on Netflix Africa featuring fan favourites Tiwa Savage, Lupita Nyong’o, Thuso Mbedu, Timini Egbuson, among others

Netflix has announced that the MTV Shuga full library is now available for streaming on their digital platform. The Pan-African series initially launched in Kenya and has since expanded into Nigeria, South Africa, and Cote D’Ivoire. The show’s success includes two seasons in Kenya, four in Nigeria, two in South Africa, and two in Cote D’Ivoire; all of which are now available on Netflix.

MTV Shuga is a multiplatform edutainment campaign initiative from the MTV Staying Alive Foundation that has integrated pop culture, trending music, and youthful storytelling to positively impact and change behaviors of young people for over a decade. A 2017 study by the World Bank proved that viewers of the television drama were twice as likely to test for HIV – while the show’s storylines, touching on HIV prevention, gender-based violence, safe sex, and more, have educated a growing fan base across the world since the show debuted in Kenya in 2009.

“We’re thrilled that Netflix is taking the full MTV Shuga series. Not only does it give the Netflix audience the chance to see some of the biggest actors across the continent – including Lupita Nyong’o and Thuso Mbedu – starring in several MTV Shuga series; but it also allows us to reach a brand new and wide audience with our proven behavior-changing content for the continent’s youth”, said Georgia Arnold, Executive Director at MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, at Paramount.

Fan favorites and star power across the series include familiar Pan African talent from Kenya: Lupita Nyong’o (Ayira), Nick Mutuma (Leo); South Africa: Thuso Mbedu (Ipeleng), Mamarumo Marokane (Dineo), Ayanda Makayi (Sol); Nigeria: Tomiwa Tegbe (Wasiu), Jemima Osunde (Leila), Timini Egbuson (Tobi); Côte D’Ivoire: Ange Eric N’Guessan (Daniel), Soukeïna Koné (Rubi) and several other notable characters.

Memorable musical artists supporting the series with vibrant music include musicians from Kenya: Madtraxx, P-Unit, and Nameless, Nigeria: Tiwa Savage, Vector Tha Viper, and Larry Gaaga; South Africa: Nasty C, Kwesta and NdunaRoyal; Côte D’Ivoire: Zeynab, Serge Beynaud, and Big Tyger.

“MTV Shuga continues its commitment to contribute to improving and inspiring behavioral change at the grass-roots level by reflecting authentic social issues

impacting young Africans through storytelling. We welcome the partnership with Netflix and we believe we will collectively work together to build stronger communities and encourage deep and meaningful conversations amongst the youth”, says Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Paramount.

MTV Shuga: What Makes A Man docu-series tackling GBV premieres on MTV Base, March 1

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a severe problem plaguing African communities, with the country experiencing high levels of violence against women and children. MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man, produced in partnership with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Meta Africa and UNFPA is a documentary series seeking to spark sustained conversation that drives meaningful action. MTV Shuga What Makes A Man premieres exclusively on MTV Base (DSTV Channel 322) Tuesday, March 1st at 21:30 CAT & Wednesday, March 2nd at 22:00 WAT.

The MTV Shuga documentary series What Makes a Man is executive produced by and features star of MTV Shuga Down South Ayanda Makayi. The issue of GBV is close to Ayanda’s heart having portrayed the character of “Sol” on the hit MTV Shuga Down South series whose character is a perpetrator on the show. In this powerful 3-part documentary series, Ayanda asks himself the question “What Makes a Man?”, and having recently become a new father he seeks to set an example to his son.

“This has been a long time in the making and quite a personal project for me. I am incredibly proud to not only have starred in this documentary series but to have executive produced it as well. ‘What Makes A Man’ won’t end the epidemic of GBV but we’re hoping this is the start of a long road ahead of uncomfortable questions and conversations. The biggest outcome for me from this entire journey has been self-reflection and I hope we evoke the same for all Africans,” says host and executive producer Ayanda Makayi.

MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man tackles the subject of GBV as a collective societal issue that can only be solved if everyone unites in the fight against it. The documentary includes notable South Africans including TV personality and activist Andile Gaelesiwe, musician Big Zulu, rapper Maglera DoeBoy, MTV Base Culture Squad Member Uncle Vinny and radio personality Bujy Bikwa. The documentary series explores the question of What Makes a Man engaging people from all walks of life across the country.

Monde Twala, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Paramount Media Networks Africa and MTV Staying Alive Foundation Board member commented “MTV Shuga has been at the forefront of using the power of storytelling to address social issues, and to drive meaningful change within communities around the continent. We have seen this with our MTV Shuga series and this documentary seeks to address gender-based violence. Along with our partners, we are committed to continuing to use our platform

and content to inspire behavioural change, engagement and real action in the fight against GBV.

MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man docu-series seeks to leave the audience asking questions, recognising that we are all part of the issue and equally so a part of the solution. By asking ourselves “What Makes a Man?” we are learning and unlearning harmful behaviours that are going to be fundamental towards starting conversations that will drive meaningful change.

“We hope that our audience watch the show, reflect on the current climate of the GBV epidemic and start to think about positive changes we need to make individually to create a society where we each feel safe, irrespective of our gender. Through support from various funders, namely UNFPA, META, the US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa and the South African Presidency’s Gender-Based Violence Fund Response 1, MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man will be extended into community outreach through peer education. It is through this interpersonal intervention where we aim to see a shift in attitudes and behaviour.” Commented Yvonne Diogo, MTV Staying Alive Foundation Country Director.

The premiere episode of MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man is set to take viewers on an emotional and reflective journey that will spark dialogue on the epidemic of GBV, the root causes and how men and South Africans can end GBV. Host Ayanda Makayi emotionally opens up to his unborn son on the man and father he hopes to be. Ayanda also engages on issues such as bullying and how they can manifest in unhealthy and dangerous behaviours that can lead to gender-based violence. With the understanding that the issue of GBV is one that affects our immediate communities, Ayanda journeys to his home engaging his mom on the issue and speaks to pupils at his former high school on what really makes a man.

Be sure to catch the riveting MTV Shuga What Makes A Man docu-series premiering exclusively on MTV Base (DSTV Channel 322) Tuesday, March 1st at 21:30 CAT & Wednesday, March 2nd at 22:00 WAT.

AfricaNXT 2022: Adebola Williams, Funke Akindele, Comfort Lamptey to discuss essence of communication in combating misogyny and chauvinism

In an upcoming panel session at the 2022 edition of AfricaNXT, media entrepreneur and author of African Power Girls, Adebola Williams will explore clear ways of leveraging the power of communication tools — especially social media to combat narratives that entrench misogyny and chauvinism in the society.

 

The panel session which is titled Break the bias: How social media can build the next generation of African Power Girls, will be moderated by cinematographer, content creator, and actress, Maryam ‘Taaooma’ Apaokagi. The session is geared towards normalising the conversations and initiatives needed to empower the girl child and make them future-ready.

 

“Africa, and indeed the world, has been programmed to put the female gender down,” said Adebola Williams, Group Chief Executive Officer of RED | For Africa, while commenting on the essence of the panel. “Very often you see females having to do twice the work their male counterparts do to attain similar heights, and when they do achieve phenomenal feats, they are not celebrated as loudly as they should be — proof of this are the myriads of awe-inspiring women whose stories still remain untold.

 

“This unjust dynamic flows down to the home and schools. Girls are told they cannot do certain things for the most ridiculous reason — their gender. Thankfully, this narrative is already being altered. However, a lot is still left to be done.

 

“My book, African Power Girls, was written to contribute to the correction of these myopic narratives. I believe story stelling is a potent tool in achieving this. At the panel session, I will be reading a portion of this timely book and expounding on ways to actively empower females all around the world.”

 

Other panelists include popular producer and actress, Funke Akindele; and Comfort Lamptey, Representative, UN Women to Nigeria and ECOWAS.

 

Individuals interested in participating in the event should visit https://emamo.com/event/africanxt2022/s/break-the-bias-how-social-media-can-build-the-next-generation-of-african-power-girls-orPmxa

SAMUEL L. JACKSON NAMED CHAIRMAN’S AWARD RECIPIENT FOR ’53RD NAACP IMAGE AWARDS | WIZKID, TEMS, TIWA SAVAGE, KiDi, FIREBOY DML AND OMAH LAY NOMINATED FOR OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL SONGS AT THE 53RD NAACP IMAGES AWARDS

The NAACP and BET announced that Academy Award-nominated actor and producer Samuel L. Jackson will receive the prestigious Chairman’s Award during the 53rd NAACP Image Awards”. The Chairman’s Award is bestowed in recognition of individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change. Past honorees of the Chairman’s Award include the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis and Ruby Dee, Danny Glover, Rev. James Lawson, Tyler Perry, then-Senator Barack Obama, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. It was also announced that Scot X. Esdaile will receive the Activist of the Year award and Channing Hill will receive the Youth Activist of the Year award. The “53rd NAACP Image Awards”, hosted by seven-time NAACP Image Awards Winner Anthony Anderson, airs Sunday, 27 February at 19:00 WAT / 20:00 CAT on BET Africa (DStv Channel 129).  

“Samuel L. Jackson is an incredibly talented actor with a remarkable career in film and theater spanning over four decades,” said Leon W. Russell, chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “Many might not know that prior to his acting career, Jackson was a staunch activist during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, even serving as an usher at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral. His continued public service and advocacy for social change make him an excellent recipient for the Chairman’s Award.” 

“Samuel L. Jackson’s talent and star power has inspired generations and continues to raise the bar for all of Hollywood,” said Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy. “We admire his impressive entertainment career and humanitarian efforts, and we look forward to giving him his flowers as a living legend, continuing to honor his Black Excellence.” 

Jackson’s portrayal of ‘Jules’ in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” made an indelible mark on American cinema. In addition to unanimous critical acclaim, he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, as well as a Best Supporting Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Among his many award-winning performances, Jackson made movie history with his portrayal of Gator Purify in Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever” when he was awarded the first and only Best Supporting Performance Award ever given by the judges at the Cannes Film Festival. Jackson will receive an honorary Academy Award at the upcoming Governors Awards this year. 

With roles in prestigious and fan-favorite films including “RoboCop,” “True Romance,” “The Hateful Eight,” “Snakes on a Plane,” “A Time to Kill,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Goodfellas,” “Unbreakable,” multiple “Star Wars” films, and multiple Marvel films including “Iron Man 2,” “The Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and more, Jackson has solidified himself as an international film icon, captivating audiences worldwide.  

Jackson’s next appearance will be in the Apple TV limited series “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.” The series is based on best-selling author Walter Mosley’s bestselling novel, which he adapted for the screen and executive produces alongside Jackson. 

This year’s Activist of the Year Award will go to Scot X. Esdaile, President of the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches and a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Esdaile has been working with the Black and Latino Caucus addressing the lack of testing, data, PPE supplies, and vaccinations for the Black and Brown communities. His efforts on this initiative have produced positive outcomes in the health arena with better access to testing and vaccination sites in minority communities. He also fought for the successful passage of bills that limited the use of tasers and established the Minority Health Advisory Council to eliminate health disparities.  

Most recently, Esdaile collaborated with many stakeholders, hospitals, and the Governor of Connecticut on the NAACP National Million Jobs Campaign, an initiative geared toward removing barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated individuals and designed to help people make fresh starts while reducing recidivism. The purpose of the initiative is to provide viable opportunities for people who have served time to get back on the right path and to become viable citizens contributing to society and the community.  

Channing Hill, NAACP Chapter President of Howard University, will receive this year’s Youth Activist of the Year award. Hill is an aspiring lawyer pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic, Legal, and Management Communication at Howard University in Washington, D.C. At only 20 years old, Hill has organized and led protests in public schools in her home state of Texas since her adolescence. Finding her voice in her NAACP Youth-Council in Arlington, Texas, she now leads as the Howard University NAACP Chapter President. Channing’s commitment to social justice is rooted in a firm belief in community and black traditions. 

Winners for the “53rd NAACP Image Awards” will be revealed during the award ceremony on Sunday, 27 February at 19:00 WAT / 20:00 CAT on BET Africa (DStv Channel 129). NAACP will also recognize winners in non-televised Image Awards categories February 21-25, which will stream on www.naacpimageawards.net. The “53rd NAACP Image Awards” are presented by Wells Fargo and sponsored by AT&T, Google, T-Mobile, Bank of America, General Mills, FedEx, and Airbnb. For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.  

Why Zedcrest Group is Sponsoring 16th Edition of The Future Awards Africa – Adedayo Amzat

Zedcrest Group, a new-age financial solutions powerhouse, is sponsoring the 16th edition of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) to support and celebrate young leaders who are shaping the culture, defining trends, and creating new opportunities across the continent.

According to the Group Managing Director of Zedcrest, Mr. Adedayo Amzat, CFA, the decision to sponsor Africa’s biggest youth awards organized by The Future Project is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to supporting initiatives that drive the acceleration of transformational growth in Africa.

“As a youth-driven company, TFAA’s brand essence reflects what the Zedcrest Group brand stands for – excellence and impactful innovation. For more than a decade, TFAA has celebrated the wealth of talent and amazing work African youth deploy every day in not only driving economic growth but in touching lives positively in their communities. This is very commendable and at Zedcrest, we are very delighted to support The Future Project on this journey”, said Mr. Amzat.

Zedcrest Investment Managers (ZIMVEST), the asset management firm of Zedcrest Group, is offering five Zimvest App users the opportunity to attend the ceremony. To qualify for the VIP ticket, existing and new users of the app are required to save or invest a minimum of N20,000 on the Zimvest App on or before Thursday, February 17th, 2022. For more information on the challenge, follow @zimvestapp on all social media platforms.

The 16th edition of the awards –themed “Celebrating Challengers and Builders”– will be held on February 20, 2022, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. It will also be televised live on Channels TV, Hip TV, and Wazobia TV. To stay up-to-date, follow @zedcrest and @zimvestapp on all social media platforms.

TomTom sponsors a new season of MTV Base Cypher as it premieres on February 27

MTV Base today announced Nigeria’s number one candy brand, TomTom, as the official sponsor of the new season of MTV BASE CYPHER which premieres on Sunday, 27 February 2022, at 19:00 WAT.

 

Tagged ‘Freshman Class’, the all-new season (third in the sequence) is set to feature series of thrilling rap battles, amongst different teams, with winners to be determined by the viewers.

 

Speaking about the TomTom sponsorship of the show, Category Manager, Morolake Emokpaire, says that “Through the MTV Base Cypher, we are connecting the TomTom’s essence of giving consumers the clarity of voice and confidence for expression with the passion point of millions of Nigerians, music. Having kicked off our IMC campaign (Breathe For It) last year, sponsoring the MTV Base Cypher is just one of the many activities we have in store for TomTom. As a music genre that is fun, vibrant, refreshing and edgy, Rap is an integral part of the Nigerian music culture. It embodies the lyrical uniqueness and expressions of individual talents, and that’s something we connect to as a brand.”

 

Base cypher is a short form that caters to the rap culture and gives performers an opportunity to share their truth. This season’s MTV Base Cypher’s ‘Freshman Class’ will see Africa’s best young, up and coming rappers paired up into various groups for a friendly face-off and a chance to win the grand prize of one million naira.

 

The Country Manager, Paramount Africa, Bada Akintunde-Johnson, said, “Nigeria’s music industry is brimming with refreshing talent. So far, we have seen hip-hop, soul, afro-pop, afro-fusion and similar genres of music flourish. MTV Base launched the Base Cypher to ensure that while engendering an enabling environment for music artistes, no genre is left behind.”

 

“Rap culture has blossomed in Nigeria, and we have quite a number of quality lyricists seeking global platforms like MTV Base to showcase their talent to a wider audience. Through the Cypher, we want to give budding artistes the visibility they need to ‘blow’”, he continued.

 

To catch all episodes of MTV Base Cypher ‘Freshman Class’, tune in to MTV Base DStv Channel 322 and GOtv Channel 72, every Sunday at 19:00 WAT starting 27 February 2022. You can also follow @mtvbasewest across all social media platforms for more exciting

scoops from the show and join the conversation using the hashtags #TomTomxMTVBase and #MTVBaseCypher.

ViacomCBS unveils new name, global content slate and international expansion plans for Paramount+

22 February 2022, Lagos – ViacomCBS recently announced that the global media company will become Paramount Global (referred to as “Paramount”), effective February 16, bringing together its leading portfolio of premium entertainment properties under a new parent company name.

“Paramount is an idea: A promise to be the best,” said Shari Redstone, Non-Executive Chair of the company’s Board of Directors. “That promise has always been at the centre of what we aspired to build as the steward of more than a century of cinematic excellence, and with businesses and brands that have defined and redefined entertainment for generation after generation. We have made enormous progress, and I have never been more excited about the future of this company.”

“Paramount’s iconic peak represents a rich history for our company as pioneers in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Today, as we embrace the Paramount name, we are pioneers of an exciting new future,” said Bob Bakish, President and Chief Executive Officer.

A FOCUS ON STREAMING AND GLOBAL EXPANSION

Paramount+ has exceeded the company’s goals since its launch, and ahead of schedule, as the key driver of ViacomCBS’ overall streaming growth. The company delivered more than 56 million total global streaming subscribers and 84% revenue growth in the direct-to-consumer segment in 2021. As a result of its streaming momentum and incremental investments, the company is raising its global streaming subscriber goal from 65-75 million global streaming subscribers to more than 100 million subscribers by year-end 2024. This is supported by the decision that ViacomCBS Networks Africa, now Paramount Global, will be part of the expansion expedition to bring subscription-based video-on-demand streaming platform, Paramount+, to Africa by 2023.

“We see a huge global opportunity in streaming, a much larger potential market than can be captured by linear TV and film alone,” continued Bakish. “We’re excited about our ability to not just compete, but thrive, creating significant value for both consumers and shareholders. How? Because we’re broader in four key areas: our diverse content, streaming model, mix of platforms, and global reach. As we look forward, the size of the opportunity we see is matched only by our ambition to seize it.”

“The continued global expansion to bring Paramount+ to Africa by 2023 underscores the importance of the stories we create, which are only as powerful as the audiences they reach. Paramount+ has established itself as a leading brand in the industry in less than a year and will strengthen the traditional business and allow greater opportunities for collaboration and growth. This is an exciting time for the Africa business, and our future streaming plans across multiple platforms will enable us to reach even greater audiences.”, said Senior Vice President & General Manager at Paramount Global, Craig Paterson.

BROAD CONTENT OFFERING

With an expansive slate of exciting programming announcements, this transition will see Paramount+ continue to deliver the most diverse content offering in streaming across every genre at scale, including beloved franchise extensions and all-new buzzworthy originals spanning must-see movies, scripted dramas, unscripted reality TV, comedy, kids and family, sports, news, specials, and events to super-serve the entire household. This is an extension to the commitment of authentic storytelling and bringing diverse stories to the world.

“This pioneering move amplifies our dedication to innovation, collaboration through partnerships, creativity, and global reach, it’s a great opportunity to further showcase the power and growth of African content across the markets. While encapsulating the business objective and growth spectrum of the brand, the decision also enables us to continue to focus on delivering unique stories from Africa to the world. ViacomCBS Networks Africa, now Paramount Global, will have the impetus to go forward in delivering on driving social change, diverse entertainment content creation, and global format production partnerships”, said Paramount Africa’s Senior Vice President, General Manager, and Peer Lead at BET International, Monde Twala. Please visit www.paramount.com and @ParamountCo on Twitter for more information about the company.

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