Cellular operator Cell C has become the latest entrant in the crowded subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) arena, launching a new video streaming service called "black".
As a separate business from Cell C, black will try to
eke out a spot in the very crowded South African streaming services market
already populated by Netflix South Africa, Naspers' Showmax, DEOD, PCCW
Global's ONTAPtv.com, PrideTV and Amazon's Amazon Prime Video.
Cell C says black will give users access to live
streaming of five top European football club channels (ManU TV, Barca TV,
Liverpool TV, Chelsea TV and Real Madrid TV), as well as services like sports
betting and hotel bookings. Consumers not using Cell C can also access black.
Black is available on Android and iOS apps, but also
has its own set-top box (STB) called the blackBOX that cost R1 500, with
black that can also be accessed through web browsers at black.co.za.
At launch
black says it offers a video-on-demand offering of up to 5 000 movies,
series, music and documentaries with international and local content.
On black customers can also watch local soaps from the
SABC and international shows like Generations, Uzalo, Mary Kills People,
Catastrophe, Power, High Rollers and Survivor’s Remorse, as well as catch up on
previous seasons.
A deal has also been signed between black and Fox
Networks Group Africa (FNG Africa) to add its FOX+ streaming service in South Africa for the first time. Under the deal, FOX will give black linear and
on-demand content from 21st Century Fox.
It gives black access to content from channels like
FOX and National Geographic that has until now only been available on
MultiChoice’s DStv and StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media’s (ODM) StarSat
satellite pay-TV platforms.
Through black consumers will get access to 8 FOX
channels from FOX+, with full seasons on-demand shows from 21st Century Studios, 20th Century Fox Television and FOX News Channel
programming. TV shows range from Modern Family and Homeland to Empire
and The Walking Dead.
Channels available through FOX+ include FOX, FOX Life,
National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, FOX News Channel
and BabyTV.
“We are exceptionally excited to have
signed this momentous deal, which will add to the premium content already
available on the black platform,” says black’s content boss, Surie Ramasary, of
the FOX+ deal.
“FOX is a natural content partner for black. Fox
Networks Group are particularly proud to partner with Cell C as they undertake
to revolutionise the mobile TV space, undoubtedly a key pillar in the future of
entertainment,” says Adam Theiler, the executive vice president of Fox Networks
Group Europe and Africa.
"Content services around the world
are growing as fast as mobile did in its early days and true to Cell C’s form
we are embracing content by bringing black to South Africans," says Cell C CEO
Jose Dos Santos.
Customers can access black by using vouchers as well
as debit and credit cards and Cell C subscribers will be able to pay using
prepaid airtime.
Customers can buy blockbuster movies from R59 to own
and watch as many times as they like, or rent them from R29 for 48 hours.
"FLEXI Access" cost R10 per day up to R39 per month, with "FLEXI Premium" ranging from R39 per day to R99 per month. BTV Premium with access to 60 channels
cost R189 per month with BTV Access with 18 channels costing R69 per month.
The football channels cost extra as a separate
subscription ranging from R5 per day to R25 per month.
