BBC Kids, Switch grow SA footprint

BBC Studios and Switch Media have extended their partnership with the expansion of the BBC Kids programming brand in South Africa.

Under a deal announced this week by the two UK companies, BBC Kids can now be accessed through the Streamy platform on VodaPay, extending its availability to Vodacom customers through a flexible subscription model, including pre-paid and post-paid.

BBC Kids made its debut in South Africa through Switch in September 2022 and is a video destination for families with children under 12.

It offers kids’ content including Hey Duggee, JoJo & Gran Gran, Sarah & Duck, Dog Loves Books, Andy’s Safari Adventures, Junior Bake-off, Mi High, The Sarah Adventures, Jamie Johnson, Fierce Earth and Super Human Challenge.

Since its launch in SA two years ago, BBC Kids has gained more than 1.5 million subscribers, according to Switch.

Pierre Cloete, commercial director at BBC Studios in Africa, said: “I’m thrilled to witness the rapid growth of BBC Kids in South Africa, allowing us to extend our award-winning kids’ content to an even wider audience.

“We take immense pride in our kids’ proposition, which is not only celebrated by the industry and parents but also cherished by the children themselves. It’s not just about the accolades; it’s about the trust parents place in us as a safe and enjoyable space for their children fun and development time.”

Mark Johns, CEO of Switch Media, added “Switch Media are delighted to add Vodacom to the BBC Kids family, bringing safe, ad free, education and entertainment to even more families across South Africa. Built using our award-winning MediaHQ solution, the BBC Kids app features nearly 300 hours of content, a clean, easy to navigate interface and programme recommendations.”