BBC Worldwide will deliver original television content to South African VoD service MTN FrontRow. The new shows include the BBC’s BAFTA award-winning Sherlock series and David Attenborough’s Planet Earth.
MTN FrontRow was the first OTT VoD service to be launched by a South African-based telecoms company, going live in December 2014, in a partnership between Discover Digital and MTN. The service offers both subscription and transactional VoD, via its FrontRow Club and FrontRow Premiere brands.
The new deal allows MTN FrontRow Club subscribers to watch the latest BBC Worldwide series, including Golden Globe-winning crime drama Luther, period drama Call the Midwife, new-release documentary Africa, and children’s TV programming including Charlie and Lola.
MTN FrontRow Club subscribers can stream content via their internet browser to their mobile device or computer, or through its Android or iOS apps, and the service is available to everyone regardless of their current operator.
The deal was signed between BBC Worldwide and Vubiquity, a global provider of content services, which works with local providers to manage everything from licensing to delivery, enabling telecoms businesses, and others, to launch and monetise VoD services in multiple languages.
“BBC Worldwide produces some of the world’s most popular and cutting-edge content,” said Adam Poulter, MD for EMEA at Vubiquity. “MTN FrontRow is bringing this outstanding-quality content to South Africa. They are responding to the growing demands of customers who want to view the latest films and TV series whenever they want and wherever they want. Vubiquity has the proven platform solution that enables any type of business, not just traditional broadcasters, to meet their customers’ constantly evolving expectations and provide viewers with top-quality content across a wide ecosystem of devices.”
Stephen Watson, managing director of Discover Digital, added: “We are delighted to secure BBC Worldwide content for the MTN FrontRow service. MTN’s commitment to build on their premium content offering ensures the consumer will continue to enjoy world class content. The BBC brand sits well within the existing catalogue of the top six Hollywood studios whilst adding an alternative of much-loved British film and series flavour.”
