BBC Kids expands reach in South Africa
May 7, 2024
BBC Studios has announced the extension of its partnership with Switch Media in South Africa to enable customers on the Vodacom network access to BBC Kids by paying for the service through add-to bill (for postpaid customers) or through airtime (for prepaid customers).
The video destination aimed at families with children aged 0-12 can be downloaded via the Apple App or Google Play stores, and is accessible to Vodacom customers via a flexible subscription model. Customers can choose between the daily subscription option at R5 or R15 for the weekly subscription, alternatively they can opt for the R25 subscription giving them access for the whole month.
BBC Kids made its debut in South Africa through Switch Media in September 2022. The ad-free video destination offering inspiring, educational and entertaining BBC content for families and children aged 0-12 has already proven to be a success, gaining over 1.5 million subscribers since launch.
With dedicated sections aimed at pre-school children and another for older primary school children, BBC Kids provides a safe space for children to enjoy an abundance of BBC Kids content. The younger demographic (ages 0-6) can indulge in beloved programmes like Hey Duggee, JoJo and Gran Gran, Sarah and Duck, Dog Loves Books and Andy’s Safari Adventures, among others, while the older cohort (ages 7-12) can delve into a curated selection, including offerings like Junior Bake-off, Mi High, The Sarah Adventures, Jamie Johnson, Fierce Earth and Super Human Challenge, tailored to meet their specific interests and requirements.
Pierre Cloete, Commercial Director at BBC Studios in Africa, commented: “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 at 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 program recommendations.”
Vodacom customers can access BBC Kids content through the Streamy platform. Streamy is now also available on VodaPay.