net-m, WatchAfrica partner for African VoD
November 24, 2015
net-m, a specialist in payment solutions and mobile entertainment services, has partnered with African media and content provider WatchAfrica to launch the WatchAfrica app, an African mobile IPTV and VoD service, showcasing the service for the first time at the recent AfricaCom expo.
The service is made possible by net-m’s Anyscreen service, which supports the streaming of multiple channels onto smartphones, tablets and set-top boxes using current state-of-the-art technologies. The integrated 24/7 scheduling solution enabled Tele 10, the entertainment provider behind WatchAfrica, with an intuitive system to build a series of channels from live, pre-recorded or mixed content.
As net-m’s Anyscreen is also compatible with its mobile payment technology, it means that anybody with a smartphone in Africa is able to pay for content.
Carsten Müller, Senior Vice President B2O and Media at net-m, says: “We believe that as one of the highest growth regions for mobile entertainment, Africa is deserving of a tailored mobile IPTV and VoD solution. We also know that with the low credit card penetration and high smartphone usage in Africa, the traditional forms of payment offered by many other VoD services wouldn’t appeal to consumers.”
Much of the launch content is delivered by AfricaXP, the leading independent creator and distributor of custom designed channels and themed VoD content offering for African audiences. It offers over 20 themed linear and VoD channels, and has full capacity to customise channel content mix and branding. WatchAfrica also launched with Aflix, an African content service, which is similar to Netflix, and a range of news services including K24, the leading Kenyan news broadcaster and TV10, the first private TV channel from Rwanda with a direct access to social networks.
Eugene Nyagahene, President of Watch Africa says: “We will make sure to deliver a full range of local African news and African content and give our customers the possibility to comment on this news directly over their social networks.”