In a pivotal move to unify the broadcasting and media sector across the African continent, Broadcast Media Africa, in collaboration with the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA), has announced that the Broadcasters Convention—Southern Africa (SABA2025) will take place from 28 to 30 October 2025 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The event, hosted by Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), will be co-located with SABA’s 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will bring together national broadcasters, regulators, policymakers, technology providers, and media innovators.
Broadcasting and media in Africa continue to evolve, driven by digital disruption, shifts in audience behaviour, and the need for more inclusive, locally relevant content. Despite significant progress in digitisation, many African countries still face infrastructural gaps, fragmented regulatory frameworks, inconsistent funding models, and challenges in content distribution.
Moreover, traditional broadcasters must now compete in a landscape crowded with Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms, social media content creators, and mobile-first audiences. Yet, these challenges are matched by immense opportunities, particularly through regional cooperation, policy alignment, and technology adoption.
The Broadcasters Convention aims to provide a vital platform for stakeholders across the broadcasting and media sector to openly deliberate on pressing questions shaping the industry’s future in Africa. These include how public service broadcasting can remain relevant and financially sustainable in a rapidly changing media environment; the role that emerging technologies such as AI, cloud-based production, and digital radio should play in advancing the sector; how regulatory environments can be designed to support innovation while safeguarding the public interest; and what kinds of strategic partnerships are needed to unlock the full potential of local content production and monetisation.
By convening regional experts, policymakers, and innovators, the event seeks actionable solutions beyond rhetoric, focused on transforming broadcasting into a vehicle for education, culture, democracy, and economic growth.
The Broadcasters Convention—Southern Africa 2025 co-location with SABA’s 31st AGM signifies a renewed continental commitment to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective advancement. With participation expected from over 20 countries, the gathering presents a unique opportunity for African broadcasters and media stakeholders to speak with a unified voice on the industry’s future.
