Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      South Africa begins complex job of overhauling media laws

      13 July 2025

      Nvidia CEO to hold high stakes media briefing in Beijing

      13 July 2025

      Blue Label Telecoms to change its name as restructuring gathers pace

      11 July 2025

      Get your ID delivered like pizza – home affairs’ latest digital shake-up

      11 July 2025

      EFF vows to stop Starlink from launching in South Africa

      11 July 2025
    • World

      Grok 4 arrives with bold claims and fresh controversy

      10 July 2025

      Bitcoin pushes higher into record territory

      10 July 2025

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025

      Grammarly acquires e-mail start-up Superhuman

      1 July 2025

      Apple considers ditching its own AI in Siri overhaul

      1 July 2025
    • In-depth

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025

      MultiChoice may unbundle SuperSport from DStv

      12 June 2025

      Grok promised bias-free chat. Then came the edits

      2 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS+ | MVNX on the opportunities in South Africa’s booming MVNO market

      11 July 2025

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025

      TCS+ | First Distribution on the latest and greatest cloud technologies

      27 June 2025
    • Opinion

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025

      Singapore soared – why can’t we? Lessons South Africa refuses to learn

      13 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Editor's pick » Netflix rival Iflix coming to SA

    Netflix rival Iflix coming to SA

    By Duncan McLeod8 March 2017
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp
    Inside the Iflix Africa head office in Cape Town

    Netflix and ShowMax rival Iflix, which is promising a lower-cost alternative video-on-demand service, will be launched in South Africa and six other African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria.

    The company, which until now has focused on Southeast Asia, has aggressive plans to expand in Africa, according to regional marketing director Jo Eyre. (No exact timing is available yet for the South African launch.)

    This is likely to put it on a collision course with the Naspers-owned ShowMax, with also focuses on emerging markets.

    Speaking to TechCentral from Johannesburg on Wednesday, Eyre said Iflix will be aimed mainly at mobile users, but will also cater to those with fixed broadband at home.

    Bloomberg reported earlier on Wednesday that Iflix has raised US$90m (about R1,2bn) in a round led by telecommunications giants Liberty Global and Kuwait-based Zain to take on Netflix and Naspers in Africa and the Middle East.

    The investment will also fund expansions throughout Asia, the company said. According to Bloomberg, Iflix is available in nine countries in Southeast Asia, providing a mix of Hollywood and local programming. It has more than 5m customers in those markets, and is now eyeing Africa and the Middle East as its next big opportunity for expansion.

    In an interview, co-founder and chairman Patrick Grove told Bloomberg that Iflix has succeeded by positioning itself as a cheap alternative to piracy. Pricing is aggressive — in Malaysia it costs just $1,80/month (R23,50/month), compared to Netflix, where plans start at about $8/month (R105/month). ShowMax costs R99/month. Iflix is expected to cost between $2,50 and $3/month in African markets.

    The company prefers to work in partnership with mobile operators to bring its offerings to market, usually sold as bundles as part of telecoms plans. This helps Iflix reduce marketing costs, while helping operators improve the customer retention rates.

    A meeting room at Iflix’s Cape Town office showing off some of the Hollywood content available through the platform

    Iflix has approached its entry into Africa fairly quietly to date. But it has already established a head office in Cape Town, along with offices in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Accra and Lagos. The Cape Town office has about 25 employees, with eight in Johannesburg.

    Eyre said South Africans — and users in the other African markets where Iflix will be launched — can look forward to a mix of Hollywood and local and regional content. “There will be plenty of African content in there,” she said, adding that Iflix is talking to content producers in various markets.

    The gap in Africa is for a video-on-demand platform at a low cost that appeals to mobile users, Eyre said. The company is promising “awesome” video quality, even on 3G connections, thanks to advanced compression technology. “ShowMax and Netflix are doing an awesome job, but they are very much focused on the top of the pyramid. We are trying to plug the gap [lower down] with a service that is optimised for mobile.”

    However, Iflix will also target higher-end users with high-speed fixed Internet connections at home, she said.  — © 2017 NewsCentral Media



    Iflix Jo Eyre Liberty Global Naspers Netflix Patrick Grove ShowMax Zain
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleOperators seek new deal on ICT policy
    Next Article Uber backs off on ‘Greyball’ blocking

    Related Posts

    Apple is said to be eyeing Formula 1 broadcast rights

    9 July 2025

    Prosus aiming to double revenue in three years

    25 June 2025

    Naspers shifts to an AI-first strategy – and it’s paying off

    23 June 2025
    Company News

    $125-trillion traded: Binance redefines global finance in just eight years

    11 July 2025

    NEC XON welcomes HPE acquisition of Juniper Networks

    11 July 2025

    LTE Cat 1 vs Cat 1 bis – what’s the difference?

    11 July 2025
    Opinion

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

    17 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.