Tag Archives: Queen Sono

Netflix rolls out free plan in Kenya

Global streaming platform Netflix has launched a free plan in Kenya to enable audiences to view its content ad-free on their Android mobile phones.

The move comes as the US company looks to boost subscriptions in Africa, a market of 1.2 billion people that is rapidly embracing video-on-demand services.

Netflix has also been commissioning more African content, such as its first African original series Queen Sono and other shows such as movie Blood Sisters and reality show Young, Famous & African.

As well as these African originals and many acquired Nollywood titles, Kenyans will also be able to enjoy movies such as Blood & Water, Bridgerton, Army of the Dead and other popular films and series.

Netflix’s move comes as subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) is predicted to explode in Africa, with the number of people paying for SVoD subscriptions across the continent set to reach 15.06 million by 2026, according to new research from UK-based Digital TV Research.

Netflix’s subscribers are expected to double to 5.84 million by 2026 and it will still be the continent’s most popular SVoD service. However, its share of the African SVoD market is predicted to fall to 39% by that year as rival services gain popularity.

“If you’ve never watched Netflix before – and many people in Kenya haven’t — this is a great way to experience our service. And if you like what you see, it’s easy to upgrade to one of our paid plans so you can enjoy our full catalogue on your TV or laptop as well,” said the company in a statement.

“The free plan will start rolling out in Kenya over the next few weeks. We hope it’s a great match and that many of the people who try our free plan love Netflix so much that, over time, they upgrade to a full, paid subscription.”

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Netflix cancels Queen Sono due to Covid

African original Queen Sono was cancelled due to Covid-19

Global streaming platform Netflix has cancelled African original series Queen Sono, reversing its initial decision to renew the show due to “trying times” under Covid-19.

The six-episode first season of the South African crime drama series was filmed across multiple countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania and was released on February 28 this year.

The show was created by director and screenwriter Kagiso Lediga and produced by Diprente Films. It followed the story of intelligence agency field operative Queen Sono (played by Quantico star Pearl Thusi) who sets out to uncover the mystery behind her mother’s death.

In April, the show – Netflix’s first African series – was renewed for a second season but the streamer has now reversed that decision.

Lediga explained: “We wrote a beautiful story that spanned the continent but unfortunately could not be executed in these current trying times.”

In a statement, Netflix said: “We’ve made the difficult decision not to move forward with season 2 of Queen Sono. We are incredibly proud of the Diprente team for sharing their audacious vision and bringing it to life with Netflix.

“A huge thank-you to our fans across the world for the love shared for our first African original series. Netflix is also grateful to the amazing efforts shown by the cast and crew for their stellar efforts in creating this show for our members around the world.”

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Netflix renews Queen Sono for S2

Pearl Thusi in Queen Sono

Global streaming service Netflix has announced the renewal of its first African original series, Queen Sono, for another season.

The first run of the six-part series follows Queen Sono, played by Pearl Thusi, who becomes an unconventional spy after the death of her mother and is devoted to protecting the people of Africa. Haunted by her past, she finds herself torn between her career and search for justice.

S2 will see Queen search for the truth as her newfound need for revenge takes her on a mission across Africa while dealing with her family’s past and her complicated love life.

The show, made by South Africa-based studio Diprente, is expected to go into production later this year. The cast also includes Vuyo Dabula, Sechaba Morojele, Chi Mhende, Loyiso Madinga, Rob Van Vuuren, Kate Liquorish, Khathu Ramabulana and Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa.

Director Kagiso Lediga said: “I am so excited by the appetite for African stories and that Netflix is continuing to partner with us to bring to life the next chapter of Queen’s story and showcase it to the world.”

Dorothy Ghettuba, head of African original series at Netflix, added: “The first season of Queen Sono marked the beginning of our journey to introduce the world to exciting stories that are made in Africa. It was an unprecedented representation of a strong female black lead in African television.

“In the first season of Queen Sono, we saw grit and glamour, strength and vulnerability, as well as the past and the present, converge into a powerful narrative that explored the complexities and nuances of the African experience.”

Executive producer Tamsin Andersson said: “We are thrilled to continue our production of Queen Sono S2 with Netflix. The hard work from S1 paid off and we’re excited that the brand is investing further in the growth of our local production team.’’

While Queen Sono is Netflix’s first script-to-screen original production on the continent, the streaming platform is gearing up to debut another African original globally, Blood & Water, a young-adult drama series set in Cape Town.

Although scheduled for release soon, no firm date has yet been announced.

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