With the launch of Vodacom’s mobile television service, TV: On Demand, South Africans can watch some of their most loved movies and television shows straight from their mobile phones.
Vodacom has partnered with the UK based On Demand Group to offer this mobile video-on-demand service. It is currently only available to Vodacom 3G subscribers; however the agreement is not exclusive to the Vodacom network.
Based on data released by web browsing company Opera, it is an ideal time for Vodacom to introduce this service, as more and more South Africans are accessing the web via their mobile phones. The Opera State of the Mobile Web Report indicates that web mobile usage has increased its penetration levels in the South African Market quite extensively.
Tony Kelly, CEO of On Demand Group says: “We are very excited to bring our unique mobile subscription on-demand TV service to South Africa. Its introduction, with full length programming to the mobile environment, heralds a new era in the growth of mobile video.”
The fees for this service range from R75 per month or R20 per week, and it can be activated and de-activated at anytime. Shows available include Sex and the City, Entourage and The Sopranos. According to Victor Borges, GM of On Demand SA, the first month or week will be free, depending on which subscription package you take up, and this special offer will run until the end of September.
You can find out more on this service, by visiting the Vodacom website.
Sources: memeburn.com; symbianone.com; fin24.com; Image source: vodacom.co.za
Seriously though, it is about time South Africa got something big like Netflix.com or Hula.com. Maybe we’ll get Apple TV…in a million years.
