The 10th Southern Africa Broadcasters Convention has opened in Seychelles, bringing together broadcasting executives, media practitioners and industry partners from across Africa and beyond to explore the future of broadcasting in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Held under the theme “Reimagining Next: AI, Cloud, and the Future of Broadcast Media in Africa,” the convention is examining how artificial intelligence (AI), cloud technologies and digital infrastructure can help broadcasters improve operations, engage audiences and strengthen public service broadcasting.
The opening ceremony featured addresses by Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay and Berard Dupré, CEO of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), alongside welcoming remarks from Mlamuli Dlamini, CEO of eSwatini TV and the Acting President of the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA); and Benjamin Pius, CEO of Broadcast Media Africa (BMA).
In his keynote address, Anice Hassim immedia explored media transformation in the age of AI, emphasising the need for broadcasters to embrace new technologies while maintaining audience trust and meaningful community connections.
Sessions explored the modernisation of broadcasting infrastructure, with Brahim Jelassi of LAWO presenting approaches to transforming legacy workflows through IP-based systems, interoperability and cybersecurity.
Discussions on the evolving newsroom highlighted the challenges of balancing speed with accuracy in a 24-hour news cycle. Participants stressed the importance of fact-checking, responsible AI adoption and maintaining editorial credibility amid growing digital misinformation.
Panellists further discussed strategies for reaching younger audiences through relevant local content, multi-platform distribution and collaboration with independent creators and influencers.
Sustainable funding for public service broadcasting emerged as another key discussion area. Representatives from several African markets considered ways to balance government support with additional revenue streams, including advertising, OTT services and other digital platforms.
During discussions on 5G broadcasting, Joe France outlined the technology’s potential to expand access to content without requiring SIM cards or mobile data purchases. Participants also called for improved audience measurement tools to help broadcasters better demonstrate engagement and deliver reliable data to advertisers.
The convention additionally provided a platform for discussing regional collaboration and locally relevant content. Olga Lisogo, Head of Sputnik, outlined the organisation’s editorial operations in Tanzania and South Africa and its plans to expand into French-speaking African markets.
As proceedings continue, delegates are exploring practical approaches to technological innovation, content protection, sustainable business models and stronger audience relationships.
The 10th Southern Africa Broadcasters Convention is convened by Broadcast Media Africa in collaboration with the Southern African Broadcasting Association, with the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation serving as host.
To view the highlights from the day, please click here.
