Canal+, French prepaid TV operator, and iROKO, online distributor of African audiovisual content, targeting a market of 250 million Africans, are currently working together to bring up a new mobile Video On Demand (VOD) service.

The two operators intend to offer a mobile application through which will be accessed movies, series, and telenovelas. This application will be available only an Android smartphones. Canal+ for the project is to provide its large library of content, its African distribution network and its mobile payment systems.  

For Canal+, but also for iROKO, the goal here is to boost customer base by adding, smartphones and mobile internet users in Africa. Canal+ said the market includes up to 250 million people in 23 different countries which should have about 165 million smartphones by 2020.

“With nearly 2 million African households presently equipped with Canal+’s prepaid TV offer, our aim is to extend our audience to those who use their smartphone as sole mean of entertainment,” said Jacques du Puy, president of Canal+ Overseas, the group’s international division.

Canal+ and iRoko will spend millions of euros to implement this new online VOD service. Date for launching was not given but both partners promised that subscription cost for the service would be “affordable”.