Yesterday, internet streaming media service provider, Netflix, announced that it was expanding its services to Africa and will be available in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. These are just the three out of the 130 countries the company is expanding its services to.
This surprise announcement was made by the company’s CEO Reed Hastings at CES 2016. He said, “Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network,” said Hastings. “With this launch, consumers around the world — from Singapore to St. Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo — will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simultaneously — no more waiting. With the help of the Internet, we are putting power in consumers’ hands to watch whenever, wherever and on whatever device.”
Netflix in Kenya offers three main packages which are the Basic package for $7.99 (approximately Ksh. 817), Standard package $9.99 (approximately Ksh. 1,022) and Premium $11.99 (approximately Ksh. 1,226). All the three packages offer unlimited and you can see what they offer differently from the photo below.
Read More: DStv Kenya Packages as of January 2016
Netflix packages in kenya
Netflix coming into Kenya and Africa at this time puts some pressure on the existing pay TV providers such as DSTV. It offers affordable packages and with its video on demand (VOD) feature, customers will be able to watch what they want, when they want.
The only challenge to its adoption may be lack of high speed internet adoption by most people. Internet providers have been pushing the adoption of high speed internet in Kenya but not everyone has subscribed to such packages. Netflix will probably be targeting those who already have high speed internet and this number is not that small in a country like Kenya.
In concluding, Netflix said, “From today onwards, we will listen and we will learn, gradually adding more languages, more content and more ways for people to engage with Netflix,” said Hastings. “We’re looking forward to bringing great stories from all over the world to people all over the world.”
Only time will tell how successful Netflix will be in Kenya and Africa in general.