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Basketball Africa League to Host Series of Youth Development, Community Service and Business Events during 2022 BAL Playoffs and Finals

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4 years ago

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2022 BAL Finals on Saturday, May 28 at 12:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. CAT will air in Africa on ESPN, Canal+, VisionView TV and Voice of America (VOA) Radio

KIGALI, Rwanda, May 21, 2022/ — Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), New Fortress Energy (NFE), RwandAir and Visit Rwanda to Support Events and Activations During 2022 BAL (www.theBAL.com ). Playoffs and Finals fromMay 21-28 in Kigali, Rwanda; 2022 BAL Finals on Saturday, May 28 at 12:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. CAT Will Air in Africa on ESPN, Canal+, VisionView TV and Voice of America (VOA) Radio, and Around the World on American Forces Network (AFN), ESPNews, NBA TV International, Tencent Sports, TSN, the NBA App, NBA.com and NBA.com/BAL.

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today announced a series of youth development, community service and business events that will take place during the 2022 BAL Playoffs and Finals, which tip off today at Kigali Arena in Rwanda and will culminate with the second BAL Finals on Saturday, May 28 at 12:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. CAT. 

Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), New Fortress Energy (NFE), RwandAir and Visit Rwanda will collaborate with the BAL to support events and activations throughout the week.  The BAL’s roster of world-class partners includes Foundational Partners NFE, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), NIKE, Jordan Brand and Wilson; and official partners Air Senegal, Attorney General Alliance (AGA) – Africa, Destination Senegal, Envol City and Hennessy.

The single-elimination BAL Playoffs will feature the top eight teams from the league’s Sahara and Nile Conferences group phases hosted in Dakar, Senegal (March 5-15) and Cairo, Egypt (April 9-19), respectively. Tickets for the BAL Playoffs and Finals are on sale now in several categories, including group tickets, premium tickets and standard tickets.  Fans can purchase tickets by visiting BAL.NBA.com/BAL-kigali-ticketing.

Below are highlights of the week’s events and activations:

Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD)

The BAL will collaborate with AFD to promote “Alley-Oop Africa,” an original docuseries and awareness campaign for African youth that highlights how sports and athletes can drive positive behavioral change in support of sustainable development, health and gender equality.  Twenty boys and girls from seven African countries took part in the recording of the docuseries in March 2022, several of whom will participate in youth development and basketball activities during the BAL Playoffs and Finals.  The docuseries will air later this year with additional details and distribution plans to be announced at a later date.

RwandAir

Returning as the Official Airline Partner of the 2022 BAL Playoffs and Finals, RwandAir is facilitating travel to and from Kigali for BAL teams, staff and guests.

BAL Environmental Day of Service

The first BAL Environmental Day of Service projects took place at Umusambi Village in Kigali from May 19-20.  Seven BAL teams attended the event, where they explored the Umusambi Village and planted tree seedlings as part of the league’s Three for Trees initiative in partnership with NFE.  For every three-pointer made during the BAL season, the BAL and NFE will donate three trees to be planted in the home country of the BAL team with the most made three-pointers throughout the season.

BAL4Her

The third BAL4Her Day, in partnership with Visit Rwanda, will take place tomorrow and bring together 50 young women from six local organizations to take part in a workshop and networking session with female leaders from the sports industry focused on building careers in sports.  The workshop will include a panel discussion with NBA Vice President and Country Head of Nigeria Gbemisola Abudu and group discussions with 13 females across the sports industry.  After the workshop, participants will take part in a networking session with BAL staff before receiving a VIP game-day experience at the Zamalek – S.L.A.C game.

BAL Coaches Clinic

On Sunday, May 22 and Monday, May 23, Indiana Pacers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce and Detroit Pistons assistant coach Bill Bayno will lead a BAL Coaches Clinic for more than 70 basketball coaches from the local community.  The clinic will offer tools and strategies to help the coaches enhance their player basketball development curriculum.  Coaches who are unable to attend in-person can also join the clinic via Zoom by registering here.

BAL Innovation Summit

The inaugural BAL Innovation Summit in conjunction with Africa Day on Wednesday, May 25 will bring together African leaders from business, entertainment, sports, social entrepreneurship and beyond to discuss the enormous growth opportunities on the continent.  The event, which will be held at the Kigali Convention Centre, will highlight the creative identities of Africa through the lens of arts, culture, heritage, business and innovation, and mobilize the individuals who have the power to unlock opportunities and build toward a stronger and more connected Africa of tomorrow.

BAL Elevate Showcase

The inaugural BAL Elevate Showcase will feature top prospects from NBA Academy Africa taking on the U-23 Rwanda National Team at Kigali Arena on Friday, May 27 at 9:30 p.m. CAT.  The game, which will showcase the next generation of African players, will air live in Africa on ESPN Africa, Canal + and Visionary TV, in the U.S. on ESPN+, and around the world on NBA TV International.  The game will also livestream on the NBA App, NBA.com and NBA.com/BAL.

In the opening game of the 2022 BAL Playoffs, Angola’s Petro de Luanda (4-1) will take on Morocco’s AS Salé (3-2) at 8:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CAT, followed by Rwanda’s REG (4-1) against Cameroon’s F.A.P (2-3) at noon ET / 6 p.m. CAT.  The quarterfinals will continue tomorrow with Tunisia’s US Monastir (4-1) facing South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers (2-3) at 8:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CAT, followed by defending BAL champion Zamalek of Egypt (5-0) against Guinea’s S.L.A.C (2-3) at noon ET / 6 p.m. CAT.

Winners of the quarterfinal matchups will meet in the semifinals on May 25 for the chance to advance to the 2022 BAL Finals, which will air in Africa on ESPN, Canal+, VisionView TV and Voice of America (VOA) radio, and around the world on American Forces Network (AFN), ESPNews, NBA TV International, Tencent Sports, TSN, the NBA App, NBA.com and NBA.com/BAL.

2022 Basketball Africa League Playoffs and Finals Hype Video – https://bit.ly/38BLyf9 (Credit: BAL)


Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).

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Netflix is set to take nearly 10% of global CTV ad spend next year

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2 weeks ago

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February 18, 2026

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Netflix
  • Netflix ad revenue forecast to double to $3bn in 2026 and reach $8bn by 2030
  • The streamer’s global reach is close to 1bn, with members consuming 200bn hours annually
  • The platform is expanding beyond video into an entertainment hub with live sports and cultural events
  • Netflix ads perceived as trustworthy with attention
  • Gen Z favour brand integrations with Netflix IP

WARC Media’s Platform Insights: Netflix

18 February 2026 – Netflix, an established leader in original content production and streaming, has entered a new ad-funded era. Subscription fees still provide the bulk of its revenue with ad revenue accounting for just 3% of its total full-year earnings. But Netflix’s ad tier has evolved from experimental offerings to a primary engine for platform growth. According to WARC forecasts, the company is on track to win nearly 10% of global connected TV (CTV) ad spend in 2027.

This latest Platform Insights report by WARC Media explores Netflix’s ad business, advertiser sentiment, and potential next steps – from prospective acquisitions to new ventures in podcasts,

gaming and live events.

Celeste Huang, Media Insights Analyst, WARC Media, and author of the report, said: “With ad revenue set to double to $3bn by 2026, and with an eye on a growing slice of the streaming ad pie, Netflix is expanding beyond video into a global entertainment hub. It increasingly attracts ad dollars and share of market boosted by live sports, cultural events, Gen Z’s love for brand integrations, and is

perceived to be trustworthy by both brands and viewers alike.”

Investment: Netflix’s is on track to win almost 10% of global CTV ad spend in 2027

Netflix has ambitious plans for its ad business. Advertising revenue exceeded $1.5bn in 2025 (3.3% of its total revenue) and aims to double that sum again this year to $3bn, jumping to $8bn by 2030, according to data from Omdia.

The company is targeting competitor share rather than relying on market expansion and is on track to win a rapidly rising portion of connected TV (CTV) spend – from 3.7% in 2025 to 9.2% in 2027, according to WARC Media global CTV advertising spend data.

A potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would expand its content and bundle offerings, helping it to better monetise its users’ high-attention viewing.

The streamer is entering the video podcast space, which it views as an evolution of the “modern talk show”, and increasing investment in cloud gaming across both mobile and TV, hoping to extend IP impact, deepen retention and fill engagement gaps.

In the US, according to Sensor Tower data for Q2 2025, the top categories for ad spend on Netflix are shopping ($82m), consumer-packaged-goods ($78m), financial services ($66m), travel and tourism ($54m), and telecoms ($44m).

Consumption: Netflix global audience nears 1bn, with members consuming 200 billion hours annually

Netflix reports its global audience reach is edging close to 1bn, with members consuming 200bn hours annually. In Q4 2025 its global paid subscription reached 315m. In the UK, Netflix accounted for over half of Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) viewing last year, with similar dominance in the US.

Netflix’s consumption trends reflect broader shifts and challenges in SVOD, including declining per-user viewing time and competition from free services like YouTube, a trend especially amongst younger consumers. To combat this, it aims to distinguish itself through ‘premium storytelling’.

Algorithmic personalisation and a vast originals library has prompted the rise of identity-driven fandom, spanning interactive and audio experiences. Netflix now aspires to capture attention beyond film and series through expansion into video podcasts, music partnerships, sports livestreaming, and gaming integrations.

Netflix has successfully captured high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) in North America and Latin America, but the next big opportunity lies in expanding into under-served regions like APAC and lower-income segments, according to Ipsos Global Influentials.Performance: Brands view Netflix as a ‘trustworthy’ viewing environment and 70% of Gen Z audiences trust brands that connect with their favourite fandoms

Global consumers view Netflix ads as fun, entertaining, and of higher quality through personalised experiences with dynamic ad formats. Advertisers cite Netflix as a high-quality viewing environment and rank it fourth best-perceived “trustworthy” global platform behind YouTube, Instagram and Google. It stands out as the only platform with strict content curation, competing against user-generated-content (UGC) driven platforms, per Kantar.

Gen Zs favour brand integrations with Netflix IP and are 70% more likely to trust brands that demonstrate a deep understanding of their favourite fandom shows and 74% more likely to buy from brands aligned with their favourite fandoms.

 

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All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) President, Global Experts Map Out New Direction for Culture at Morocco Forum

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2 months ago

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December 17, 2025

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AFRIMA

Mr Dada highlighted AFRIMA’s work with the African Union and how the awards platform has helped to project African music to a global audience

RABAT, Morocco, December 16, 2025/APO Group/ –The President of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) (https://AFRIMA.org), Mr Mike Dada, joined leading cultural and creative industry experts from across the world to discuss the future of Africa’s cultural sector at the 3rd Moroccan Forum of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) in Rabat, Morocco.

 

The event, which took place from  December 11 to 14, 2025, was organised under the ‘High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI’ and hosted by the HIBA Foundation, a cultural organisation established by the King to support the growth of Morocco’s creative economy.

 

This year’s forum brought together policymakers, investors, cultural operators, academics, and creative professionals from countries including Senegal, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Belgium, Germany, France, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso and Quebec. Over four days, they examined how African countries can strengthen their cultural ecosystems and increase the economic value of their creative industries.

 

Mr. Dada, a lawyer, Public Relations Consultant and creative economy expert who represented AFRIMA and the African music sector, joined a major panel session titled “Towards a Pan-African Federation of Cultural Operators: What lessons can be drawn from past experiences, and how can we project forward?” The conversation focused on how African countries can share knowledge, build stronger partnerships, and promote cultural exchange across borders.

 

During the discussion, Mr Dada highlighted AFRIMA’s work with the African Union and how the awards platform has helped to project African music to a global audience. He also stressed the need for investment, training, and collaboration to grow the continent’s cultural industries and provide more opportunities for young creatives.

Our goal is to make sure African talent is visible, respected, exposed to global opportunities and celebrated everywhere

 

He said, “Africa’s creative industry is not just growing; it is becoming a powerful economic force. What we need now is stronger cooperation across the continent, better policies, and sustainable investment. If we can achieve that, our cultural sector will contribute far more to national development than it does today.

 

“This forum gives us the platform to exchange ideas, learn from global partners, and build a shared vision for African culture. Conversations like this help us understand what is working, what needs to change, and how we can move forward together as one creative continent.

 

“Through AFRIMA, we continue to promote African music to the world, support young creatives, and strengthen partnerships between countries. Our goal is to make sure African talent is visible, respected, exposed to global opportunities and celebrated everywhere.”

 

As part of the event, Mr Dada attended a special reception hosted by the Ambassador of France to Morocco, Mr Christophe Lecourtier, on December 12, where cultural leaders interacted and explored new partnership opportunities.

 

AFRIMA is Africa’s global music awards platform established in 2014 by the International Committee AFRIMA and the African Union (AU) to celebrate, reward, and promote Africa’s diverse musical talents and rich cultural heritage globally, and its 9th Edition is scheduled to hold on January 7-11, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria. The event is broadcast live in more than 84 countries around the world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

 

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1wish Season with Santa Jones – Christmas Advents by 1win and Jon Jones

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3 months ago

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December 5, 2025

By

1win

NEW YORK, USA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 December 2025 – Four weeks before Christmas, 1win has launched an Advent Calendar in partnership with its global brand ambassador Jon Jones, the legendary MMA champion. The “1wish Season with Santa Jones” is a 21-day charity challenge hosted by Jon Jones on Instagram and powered by 1win.

Effective December 1, Santa Jon Jones opens a new “gift window” daily and chooses people to fulfill their wishes. Participants can ask for anything that can brighten their lives – heartfelt gifts, something they have always dreamed about, or something important for their families. This is a perfect moment to ask Santa Jones a Christmas wish.

To join the giveaway, users need to undergo five steps:

Visit the official ‘1wish Season’ landing page in Jon Jones’s Instagram bio.
Submit the wish. Big or small, practical or emotional — any honest wish is welcome.
Leave contact details, so 1win team can contact them if Santa Jones chooses their wishes.
Follow @1win and @jonnybones on Instagram.
Repost the announcement Reel by @1win and @jonnybones to their Stories.
From December 1 to December 21, Jon Jones and 1win will be choosing five winners per day. Selected participants will be tagged in Jon’s Instagram Stories. Within 1–3 days, the 1win team will contact winners to arrange the delivery of the wishes.

“From December 1st to the 21st, you can send us your wish – something real, something you’ve wanted for a long time but never allowed yourself to get. Every day I’ll be choosing five people myself – five stories that feel honest, meaningful, and important,” said Jon Jones, as he announced the 1wish Season.

1win and Jon Jones invite fans from around the world to join the 1wish Season. Make a wish, join the Advent Calendar, and let this December bring you something truly special.

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