Kenyan video on demand (VOD) service Buni TV has partnered with Senegal’s AfricaFilms.tv to share and provide their audience members with diverse video content.
According to the two organisations, the partnership is the first of its kind, and means that their viewers are planned to have access to both the English and French catalogues of the two providers.
The partnership agreement also stipulates that while the pair plan to work together, they will continue to operate under their respective brands.
Nairobi-based Buni TV has already shown itself to be a force in the VOD space, as the startup says it has reached 300,000 unique visitors. The company also reaches African viewers through mobile.
AfricaFilms.tv has up until now focused its efforts predominantly on diaspora audiences. It says it has a catalogue of 1,000 premium titles and a robust tracking and anti-fraud encryption system.
Through the partnership, these titles and their creators plan tol reach an extended audience allowing them to earn improved revenues.
“We're just at the infancy of the African VOD space, but it's a market that is bound to explode thanks to the inevitable rise in high-speed internet access on the continent, the falling costs of both bandwidth and data, and the sustained demand for local content,” says Buni TV chief executive officer, Marie Lora-Mungai.
“The Buni TV and AfricaFilms.tv partnership offers an attractive solution to content owners by allowing them to sign with us once and get their work distributed everywhere, maximising their potential revenue,” she said.
Enrico Chiesa, chief executive officer of AfricaFilms.tv agrees that the partnership could be beneficial to both parties.
“Our partnership opens an unprecedented monetisation avenue for African and Caribbean filmmakers,” he said.
“By working together, AfricaFilms.tv and Buni TV will be able to distribute their content throughout Africa (from Dakar to Nairobi) and the entire diaspora,” Chiesa explained.
According to Chiesa the two African platforms have a strong presence in the overseas markets, with Buni TV keeping offices in the United States and AfricaFilms.tv in France.
Strategy consultant for Broadband Gurus Network, Sadiq Malik, stressed the importance of cementing strategic partnerships for African companies.
“The media group that will partner with mobile operators stands to win the game in Africa,” he said.
“Millions of people in Africa will be using low cost smartphones running on high speed wireless networks soon enough. That is a bigger audience than household TV,” he said.
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