Video-on-demand (VOD) streaming service CineMagic is now available to millions of mobile users via the Vodacom Video Play and MTN Play mobile content platforms.
Launched last month by content licensing organisation Exceptional Rights, CineMagic offers director-driven curated video content from five to 30 minutes in duration.
The local online streaming entertainment hub provides unlimited access to CineMagic’s entire library of entertainment content, with categories including drama, comedy, action, romance, adventure, sci-fi, horror, animation and thriller.
The backing of SA’s biggest mobile networks, according to CineMagic, means Vodacom and MTN prepaid or contract cellular users can visit its Web site and sign up for the video-streaming service for R5 a day, with the first three days free.
“There is an unmet consumer demand for short movies that display beautifully on mobile,” says Joanne Raphael-Katz, MD of Exceptional Rights.
“The support from the mobile networks recognises the confidence they have in CineMagic’s snackable little movies and the fact that SA mobile users want videos designed for their cellular devices and not for traditional TV broadcast.”
According to the new annual Ericsson Mobility Report, video traffic on mobile networks will grow by around 30% annually during the next five years, driven by the increase of embedded video in many online applications and the growth of VOD streaming services.
According to ICASA, smartphone penetration in SA is currently over 92%, which augurs well for streaming services, with over 22 million local consumers using their mobile phones to access the Internet.
CineMagic says it has already found much support from established and emerging South African and African film-makers and encourages local creative talent to submit their films for consideration.
New genres of content are being added regularly to its offerings, with a vision to introduce local content in future.
“This is true curated content because there are very few movie studios globally dedicated to the production of short movies and series. This means we proactively procure content from individual companies, film-makers, producers and artists. Pre-COVID, we also actively visited African and European film festivals to source short movies,” says Raphael-Katz.
The company says it will extend its South African footprint to other Sub-Saharan countries after a settling period and has a broad range of French short form content secured for the Francophone African territories.
Share