South Africa’s Entertainment Landscape: Streaming Dominates with Amazon Prime Video as the Cheapest Major Option
South Africa’s entertainment industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with the introduction of various streaming platforms challenging the once MultiChoice-controlled monopoly. The arrival of global giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV+ has provided South African consumers with a wide range of options to choose from.
Streaming Prices: Amazon Prime Video Leads the Pack
Among the major streaming services available in South Africa, Amazon Prime Video stands out as the most affordable option at R79 per month. This is significantly lower than the prices of other popular streamers, such as Netflix Premium (R199), Disney+ Premium (R139), and Apple TV+ (R125). Showmax Entertainment+Premier League content comes in at R140, while DStv Stream Premium (one stream) costs R699 per month.
Content and Streams: Amazon Prime Video Boasts the Most Titles
Comparing content between broadcasters and streamers can be challenging due to their different operating models. However, data from JustWatch suggests that Netflix has 6,672 on-demand titles in South Africa, while DStv Premium offers 135 live channels and a Catch Up Service. Among the streamers, Amazon Prime Video leads with 8,980 titles available in South Africa, followed by Showmax Entertainment+Premier League with 1,938 titles and Apple TV+ with 226 titles. Disney+ data is not available on JustWatch.
Viewing Figures: Netflix Dominates the Market
Measuring viewing figures across streamers is not straightforward, as most companies remain tight-lipped about their subscriber numbers. DStv, however, reports on its customer base in MultiChoice’s financial results. As of September 2023, South African customers were 5% lower at 8.6 million, although the number of premium clients saw a 5% growth over the same period.
According to JustWatch’s data for the first quarter of 2024, Netflix holds the largest market share in South Africa at 30%, followed by Amazon Prime Video (27%) and Showmax (25%). It’s important to note that these figures are not directly from the companies themselves, as subscriber numbers are closely guarded secrets in the SVOD space.
South Africa’s entertainment landscape has become increasingly diverse, with streaming services offering a wide range of content at competitive prices. Amazon Prime Video stands out as the most affordable major streamer, while Netflix maintains its dominance in terms of market share. As the industry continues to evolve, consumers can expect to see more innovation and competition in the years to come.