Streaming giant Amazon Prime Video has announced the launch of a localized version of its streaming service in Nigeria.
According to BMA sources, the tech giant wants to boost its subscriber in Africa by increasing its investment in local production, unveiling slates of localized originals and introducing discounted Amazon Prime membership offerings to customers.
In Africa, the streaming service launched in 2016 as part of its global push across more than 200 countries worldwide. However, versions of the service available in Nigeria have never featured the local-language interfaces, subtitling and original content offerings typical in more developed markets.
Amazon Prime Video also disclosed its plans to launch in other markets like South Africa.
Prime Video Naija disclosed in a tweet that customers in Nigeria can stream over 20,000 original TV shows and movies within its ecosystem, including “The Boys,” “All or Nothing,” “Reacher”, and “All the Old Knives.”
In Nigeria, the service will cost US$4/month after a seven-day trial. For the first time, users in Nigeria will be able to subscribe to Prime Video using their local currency.
According to data collected by Digital TV Research, Prime Video has over 600,000 subscribers in Africa and might increase to 1.5 million new subscribers in the next four years.
Thus far, Prime Video has been collaborating with filmmakers and content creators in Nigeria regarding producing original and licensed content.
The streaming service has, in the past months, closed theatrical outlet agreements with Anthill Studios, Inkblot Productions and Evoke Studios, acquiring Insight Publicis as its creative agency as well as recruiting senior executives like Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu as head of Nigerian Local Originals.
Amazon Prime Video has since released its first Nigeria show, “Gangs of Lagos,” a crime-action movie.
