Tag Archives: VoD

MTN Uganda launches VoD channel

Mobile telecoms company MTN in Uganda has launched a video-on-demand (VoD) channel dedicated to local films called Kibanda Xpress.

Aggrey Mugisha

Aimed at boosting the local film industry, the service has launched in partnership with the Association of Core Film Producers Uganda, trading as Pearlwood, alongside Albayan Media, the platform provider for the YOTV mobile app.

YOTV allows consumers to stream local and international radio and TV channels in real time via smartphones.

The Kibanda Xpress channel will feature over 150 Ugandan movies and live-stream other local entertainment content.

MTN Uganda chief marketing officer Sen Somdev said: “In 2020, globally there was unprecedented growth in online video usage with revenues estimated at US$34bn, of which premium VoD accounted for at least US$630m. Africa is gradually making its mark on the global entertainment industry with its vast talent and unique flavour of storytelling.

“We recognise the potential of the movie industry to create employment, to reposition the African narrative and positively contribute to the national GDP. Through Kibanda Xpress, we hope to boost the Uganda film industry to realise that potential.”

Mzee Bwanika, speaking for Pearlwood’s board of directors, added: “Our dream as local film content creators is to build a sustainable industry in which content creators not only earn consistently from their content, but one in which they also thrive and gain the global visibility deserved.

“Without doubt, going digital is the right move for the industry; it will reduce copyright infringements, increase the footprint of the Uganda movies and expose our artists globally among others. We are therefore very excited and appreciate our partners MTN and Albayan Media for making this possible.”

Aggrey Mugisha, YOTV channels CEO, said: “YOTV channels is a platform for our local content. We are here to tap different storytelling techniques from around Uganda and share them with global audiences. There is a unique tradition of storytelling in every country and, if it can be captured on film, then through YOTV channels we can share it with the world.

“Pearlwood is a great example that our local movie industry can be global, and that Uganda is a great entertainment market for the rest of the world.”

Kibanda Xpress can be accessed via the YOTV app from Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

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SceneOne TV unveils mobile app

JJC Skillz and Funke Akindele

Nigerian Nollywood-themed OTT entertainment service SceneOne TV has launched a mobile app.

Funke Akindele, award-winning actress, producer and co-founder of SceneOne TV, revealed the development in an Instagram post and encouraged viewers to subscribe to the VoD service.

SceneOne TV offers premium entertainment including a range of Nollywood movies and TV series.

Akindele and her rapper husband JJC Skillz said SceneOne TV was created with the aim of offering audiences “Nollywood at their finger tips.”

The new app is available through Android and IOS stores.

Akindele has featured in and produced a number of Nollywood movies, including Industreet, Jenifa’s Diary and A Trip to Jamaica.

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Kwesé TV partners with 9mobile

Econet Media-owned African pay TV company Kwesé TV has established a strategic partnership with Nigerian mobile telephone operator 9mobile.

Elizabeth Amkpa

Kwesé has signed a distribution agreement with the telecommunications company ensuring that its customers can purchase Kwesé decoder kits and services at 9mobile stores.

Meanwhile, 9mobile subscribers will get exclusive data bundles to access Kwesé iflix, the VoD joint-venture it formed with Asia-based service iflix.

General manager of Kwesé TV Nigeria Elizabeth Amkpa said of the 9mobile pact: “This partnership extends our distribution network and makes our products accessible to even more Nigerian consumers.

“We are currently operating in select 9mobile Experience Centres in Lagos and we will soon be available in other major cities across the country in partnership with 9mobile.”

Currently, there are six participating 9mobile stores, all of which are situated in Lagos. Locations include The Palms Shopping Mall, Ikeja City Mall, Adeola Odeku Street on Victoria Island, Mushin, Surulere and Festac Town.

Adebisi Idowu, 9mobile’s VP of marketing, also commented: “9mobile is determined to continue meeting the passion point of Nigerians, especially customers on the network, and Kwesé TV offers yet another major platform to do so.”

Kwesé TV has over 70 channels that offer varied entertainment, from lifestyle to news. Since its launch in Nigeria in 2017, it is fast becoming one of the leading pay TV platforms in the country.

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Iroko TV teams with Cream

Video-on-demand (VoD) service Iroko TV is partnering with new talent platform Cream to showcase up-and-coming movie makers nationwide from this week.

Dapo Oyebanjo

In a panel discussion at the recently concluded Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive), Iroko TV CEO Jason Njoku and Cream CEO Dapo Oyebanjo (aka Nigerian musician D’banj) disclosed that both platforms have formed a partnership that will help young filmmakers launch their work to the public.

According to Oyebanjo, mobile platform Cream already has more than 3.5 million subscribers for music and the company is now ready to work with the film industry to build up an audience and help fund movies.

“Cream is all about building talents and forging partnerships between brands. This is what we aim to do by partnering with Iroko TV for filmmakers on our platforms,” said Oyebanjo at NECLive.

”Every month, beginning from the month of May, we will be picking 10 scripts that we believe will interest viewers. We will take each script to the professionals and a video will be shot and produced by us.”

Launched in 2016, Cream (referring to creative, reality, entertainment, arts and music) is a platform that provides creative minds with the opportunity and space to showcase their talents and build their brand.

Iroko TV is an online TV platform. Often described as the ‘Netflix of Africa,’ it is one of Africa’s biggest mainstream online movie websites, giving subscribers instant access to more than 5,000 movies and TV series.

Iroko is already available in Nigeria and South Africa, while a French-language version launched in Senegal, Cameroon, both Congos and the Ivory Coast last year. The service recently launched in Ghana.

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