Mobile network operator MTN has announced the launch of a new streaming platform, One TV. The company is rolling out the streaming service in partnership with Synamedia, a UK-based video software provider.
MTN Group first announced the plans for One TV back in 2025. The streaming platform will target the mobile network operator’s massive subscriber base across 16 markets where the company operates.
MTN One TV to offer linear TV and on-demand content
The MTV One TV streaming service will offer a mix of linear live TV and video-on-demand content. The platform’s offering will include a mix of local content, international programming, and content that is tailored to specific markets.
The main focus of the new streaming platform, however, will be local content. Furthermore, unlike most streaming services, MTN Group will invest in curating the content from third-party content partners, instead of producing its own content.
“The content we are procuring is content that is not currently carried by the [other] streaming platforms. Our role is to curate it. We’re not developing it ourselves,” stated Ralph Mupita, MTN Group’s CEO, while announcing the launch of the streaming service in Nigeria.
MTN is also offering flexible viewing models for its content, which will reportedly vary by market. These viewing options include free-to-view, ad-supported, pay-as-you-watch, and subscription-based.
On top of that, the mobile network operator will offer flexible payment options, with subscribers able to pay through mobile money, airtime, and other locally available payment methods.
A streaming war for the African market
MTN One TV’s launch has thrust the streaming platform right in the middle of a streaming war for control of the African market. Already, streaming giants like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Canal+, and YouTube are expanding their influence in the region.
The streaming platform’s rollout also comes at a strategic moment – when the African streaming industry is undergoing a seismic shift with the winding down of Showmax and Canal Group’s acquisition of Multichoice Group.
MTN One TV already has a competitive edge, with the MTN Group boasting a massive subscriber base of over 300 million. The company is also leveraging its built-in billing system to make content easier to access for users.
Additionally, One TV will prioritize local and culturally adapted content, a niche that international streaming platforms often overlook.
However, the MTN Group CEO has stated that the new streaming platform is not looking to compete with international streaming giants:
“We see it as complementary and focused on local content. Somebody could have MTN TV as well as Netflix. That’s fine. We’re not competing. We’re actually running in different lanes.”