U.S. based Ugandan movie producer and actor, Hemdee Kiwanuka has assured Uganda’s movie industry and artistes of a wider coverage of their content following a new deal between GRB Studios and Black TV, the African pay channel.
GRB Studios an Emmy Award winning content studio and global distribution company servicing linear, digital and branded platforms signed a multi-year licensing and distribution deal with BLACK TV and will be a partner in the recently announced channel, spearheaded by actor and producer, Thomas Gumede and Hemdee Kiwanuka.
GRB’s Founder and CEO Gary R. Benz made the announcement during the start of the DISCOP market in Africa.
BLACK TV is an African pay TV channel broadcast via Starsat, South Africa, a subsidiary of the Chinese satellite television provider, StarTimes. The Black TV channel features original African series, movies, music, documentaries and non-scripted shows.
“The Black TV OTT platform delivers both premium local content as well as world-class international content through a mobile app, Web App and website accessible across a wide range of devices. I am thrilled to be a partner with them and share our great content with the widest audience possible,” said Benz.
Kiwanuka a Principal at Black TV said that the partnership is key to Black TV’s launch and will immediately provide the service with hundreds of hours of programming. Future plans to include co-producing original content for the platform.
He told SoftPower News that the new deal that was signed on Wednesday will help Ugandan artists have their content aired out on the channel which will offer them a wider coverage.
Kiwanuka as well noted that plans for launching Black TV in Uganda are underway and by 2020, the studios shall be set up for production which will boost Uganda’s movie industry.