Telemedia gets into AI with 35% stake in ITV Africa

South Africa’s largest privately owned satellite and broadcast services company has acquired 35% of Interactive Television Africa (ITV Africa) as part of its drive to diversify its business.

Telemedia hosts one of the continent’s largest teleports and provides broadcast facilities, satellite, and fibre connectivity to all of South Africa’s major broadcasters.

Telemedia CEO Patrick Conroy says the R18 million acquisition forms part of the company’s strategy to deliver end-to-end solutions for media, production, and telecommunications businesses on the Continent.

“We see the acquisition as a natural step towards delivering services to clients where artificial intelligence lowers the cost of production and unlocks value from sport and events that were previously not broadcast,” he says.

ITV Africa is the leading AI automated sports coverage business across Africa, and the provider of AI cameras, software, and OTT services to the likes of SuperSport Schools.

“Our technologies and ecosystem have made it possible to stream and broadcast localised sporting codes such as rugby, football, basketball, hockey and other sporting events that would never have been made available to larger audiences,” says ITV Africa CEO, Rob van Ginkel.

“Through the ecosystem we are also able to unlock value for sponsors, advertisers as well as the ability to offer subscription-based models” he adds.

ITV Africa recently launched the broadcast of the Nigerian Premier Football League and partnered with leagues in Zimbabwe and Namibia. It also has projects in the pipeline in Angola and Zambia.

Conroy says the impressive growth of ITV Africa in recent years and the synergies between the two companies bode well for future expansion into international markets.

Contact Information:
rodene@telemedia.co.za
viv@itvafrica.net