Viacom Play Plex will debut in the 4th quarter of this year in 180 international territories in which Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) operates channels.
A spokesperson for VIMN Africa confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Viacom Play Plex will also be for South Africa.
"Viacom Play Plex will be available to pay-TV and mobile operators in South Africa and the rest of Africa from the fourth quarter of 2015," a spokesperson told TV with Thinus.
VIMN Africa is responsible for channels seen in South Africa and the rest of the continent like MTV Base, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and several BET channels on satellite pay-TV providers like MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat.
Viacom Play Plex will consist out of mobile apps for Android and iOS enabled devices which Viacom's distribution partners can offer to their customers.
Viacom Play Plex will become the latest VOD addition in South Africa where Naspers' ShowMax launched last month and where the Times Media Group's VIDI and MTN's FrontRow are trying to make inroads.
The global streaming service Netflix told TV with Thinus at the beginning of the year that it plans to be commercially operational in South Africa before the end of 2016.
Viacom Play Plex will be offering access to a range of current and library content, as well as a live, localised linear stream of Nick Play curated from Nickelodeon specifically for every territory. Nick Play is the current Nick app which is being rebranded as Nick Play.
All of VIMN's channel brands from MTV and Nickelodeon to BET and Comedy Central will funnel content to Viacom Play Plex.
"Viacom Play Plex offers us maximum flexibility in distributing our content as the way viewers consume their favorite TV shows continues to evolve," says VIMN president and CEO Bob Bakish.
"These apps are designed to complement our linear pay TV channels and to allow our existing distribution partners to deepen and improve the entertainment experience they offer their subscribers."
"We believe no other international entertainment company is offering this type of innovation at this scale, serving every major demographic in every major TV market," says Bob Bakish.
