by Thinus Ferreira
The British video streaming service BritBox, jointly run by ITV and the BBC, announced that it would launch on 6 August in South Africa as the 5th global territory where it will be available at a price of R99.99 per month, including a 7-day free trial.
BritBox that is already available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, will join South Africa's video streaming wars where MultiChoice's Showmax, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ are competing with VIU, Vodacom Video Play and TelkomONE, with HBO Max, Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock and Discovery+ still to launch.
Meanwhile eMedia Investments plans to take the wrapping off of its renamed video streaming service eVOD that it will launch on Wednesday night in South Africa, with the SABC that plans to launch its video streaming service modelled on the British iPlayer, before the end of this year.
Then there is also Acorn TV, likely BritBox's biggest competitor and that is already available in South Africa, also offering a 7-day free trial and costing R79 per month for access to its revolving catalogue of British TV content.
Britbox in South Africa will be supported on the web, as well as on all mobile and tablet devices, while Apple TV set-top boxes, Samsung and LG smart TV sets are also included.
Some of the series at the launch of BritBox will include Absolutely Fabulous, Blackadder, Broadchurch, Fawlty Towers, Inspector Morse, Line of Duty, Luther, Manhunt, Mr Bean, Unforgotten, Professor T, The Midwife, The Office, Wedding of the Century, Vera, as well as Young Victoria.
Reemah Sakaan, BritBox International CEO, at the virtual media launch on Tuesday evening, said that when BritBox launches in South Africa on 6 August, it will have "record-levels" of exclusive content, especially since linear pay-TV channels in South Africa have ended.
Reemah Sakaan alluded to the ITV Choice channel from ITV Studios and BBC First from BBC Studios that were terminated on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service and saw the loss of a large chunk of content that led to several complaints from DStv subscribers.
"We chose South Africa as our next priority region because we know there's a massive loyal fanbase for British television and it's growing," she says.
"BritBox is perfectly place to respond to the new shifting patterns of behaviours of the way people want to watch. We see new audiences discovering gems from the past to love and generational audiences finding hot new premieres to stick their teeth into - and that's the beauty of streaming."
"In the past few years, British content has moved firmly into streaming centre-stage while also maintaining its high-quality benchmark in character-driven storytelling. That's why we seized the opportunity to tap into that appetite and created BritBox."
Britbox series will include stars ranging from Idris Alba, Helen Mirren, Judi Densch, Martin Clunes and Dominic West.
"In a sea of other streamers Britbox does exactly what it says on the tin. We pride ourselves in giving subscribers a highly curated and distinctive offering versus others. It's the largest selection of British box sets all in one place for all to discover, rediscover and to binge and enjoy."
"Due to the recent closure of some linear TV channels in Britbox in South Africa will have record-levels of exclusivity," Reemah Sakaan says.
"Premieres will regularly arrive within hours of their UK transmission, she said "making us the fastest from UK screen to BritBox stream".
"Our research tells us that South African audiences have a really broad variety of tastes. We know for instance that they love British comedies, are passionate about crime series and mad about period drama and who doesn't love a classic Agatha Christie mystery?"
"They're also adventurous and keen to try something new and edgy. So it's all of that finding a sweet spot for South African audiences as we hand-select and carefully programme for each market. We're also really excited as we've been busy commissioning and producing new originals that have been created specifically for BritBox."
Exec Neale Dennett, BritBox new markets launch director, said that BritBox South Africa will be bringing consumers several latest seasons of ongoing British series.
Customers who sign up for BritBox for a 1-year subscription will get two months added on for free.
