African VoD debuts with US shows

US-based smart TV app developer Vonetize has launched a premium VoD service in Africa featuring content from distributors such as Disney, Warner Bros, MGM and Miramax.

The OTT service, branded Aflix by SmartVOD, has been launched in collaboration with a Nigerian tech company in the African sub-Sahara region and is now available on smartphones and tablets.

The premium service, which charges a subscription fee of US$9.99 per month, offers more than 2,000 hours of content spanning the children’s, sports, lifestyle, nature and science, music, Bollywood and telenovelas genres.

TV series available to watch include Anger Management, starring Charlie Sheen, AMC drama Mad Men and the Showtime comedy drama Weeds.

Vonetize, which owns the SmartVOD brand, now plans to expand the service across Africa during 2015 by partnering with companies such as LG, Toshiba and Samsung Smart TVs.

Noam Josephides, CEO of Vonetize, said that growing penetration of broadband and wireless connectivity across Africa was helping to bring new content to viewers.