For those who haven't heard the news already, VIU which serves as one of the various streaming services competing with Netflix, Showmax, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ now offers Afrikaans programming. After announcing plans to curate content in local languages original and dubbed programs like Eerste Liefde Laaste and Trom.
This isn't the first time that VIU has curated local content as they've licensed numerous projects from the SABC such as Skeem Saam, Uzalo, Muvhango and uBettina Wethu.
VIU aside from being a subsidiary of Canal+ who is currently in the process of completing it's acquisition of MultiChoice is very much like Showmax when it comes to scale and content. Should this deal move ahead, DStv consumers are likely to be seeing more imports on Mzansi Magic and KykNet.
Although from everyone's understanding, Canal+ would retain a 20% stake in MultiChoice SA there is ways to navigate those restrictions. KykNet has become a Southern African brand by filming content in Namibia and Botswana where this restriction wouldn't apply and another as we already mentioned is VIU.
VIU would continue curating content from the market with KykNet and Mzansi Magic serving as imports to select shows as seen with Showmax. For someone who uses Showmax wouldn't this render the mentioned brands obsolete as most of their shows would be accessible elsewhere.
That's what already seen with 1Max as its confined to premium package despite consumers on the mentioned offering getting Showmax at no extra charge. This is also a meant to serve as a placeholder to Me but seeing as it's not a lower tiered channel it's basically redundant.
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