Roku Powers Kwesé Play Streaming Platform in Africa

Kwesé Play | Roku Powered (Photo: Business Wire)

AMSTERDAM--()--IBC Booth #14.G10 - Streaming platform provider Roku, Inc. and African media company Econet Media, today announced that both companies have entered a Roku Powered license agreement for the launch of streaming TV service Kwesé Play. Econet Media is a subsidiary of Econet Global which owns the largest fibre backbone in Sub-Saharan Africa and operations in 12+ countries. The Kwesé Play service and streaming player are now available in South Africa and leverage the Roku® streaming platform to deliver live TV services to consumers.

“By working with Econet we expand our footprint into Africa and get the Roku streaming experience into the hands of African consumers. As part of our Roku Powered™ license agreement, Econet will leverage our proven streaming platform to launch an innovative TV service to its customers,” said Andrew Ferrone, vice president pay TV at Roku.

“Roku’s track-record made them the obvious choice for us. The ability to deliver the Kwesé Play service to televisions is an important facet of our multiplatform content delivery service. As a result of this partnership, we are able to offer our customers cutting-edge TV services at a low cost with easy to use Roku players,” said Joseph Hundah, Chief Executive Officer of Econet Media.

Through the Roku Powered program, operators can license the Roku streaming platform to deliver live TV and on-demand services to their customers. Anton Lokotsch, Head of Technical for Kwesé Play said, “Roku provides operators with an end-to-end solution including powerful low-cost hardware, regular updates to the Roku OS and a wide selection of streaming channels.”

Operators who would like to learn more about the Roku Powered program can visit Roku from 15-19 September at the IBC trade show in Amsterdam. Roku’s booth is in Hall 14, Booth G10. More information can also be found on: https://www.roku.com/roku-powered

About Roku, Inc.

Roku pioneered streaming for the TV and aspires to power every TV in the world. As of the end of June 2017, Roku OS powered TV streaming for 15+ million monthly active accounts which streamed nearly 7 billion hours of video and music in the first half of 2017. Roku is known for streaming innovation and high customer engagement, offering content providers and video advertisers the best way to reach streaming audiences. Roku streaming players and Roku TV models are available in 10 countries through direct retail sales and licensing arrangements with TV OEMs and service operators. The company was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR. Roku is privately held and headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif. U.S.

About Econet Media

A subsidiary company of the globally networked Econet Group founded by Executive Chairman Strive Masiyiwa, Econet Media is a dynamic content business driving the development of Kwesé, a fresh new television brand. Created for Sub-Saharan African audiences, Kwesé is inspired by the ‘TV everywhere’ revolution. As such, a range of Kwesé products will be made available on satellite and internet based platforms, including video-on-demand and mobile options. Focused on providing premium, affordable, exclusive viewing choices, Kwesé products will offer sports, music, movies, series, kids, lifestyle, faith, news and other programming. Consumers will also benefit from the infrastructural strength of Econet Media sister companies, Liquid Telecom and Econet Wireless. Their expertise and capacity in the areas of mobile and fixed telephony services, broadband, internet, satellite and fibre optic networks will be utilized to establish Kwesé products. In addition, Econet Media have invested intensively to build its own operational assets. www.kwese.com.

Roku is a registered trademark and Roku Powered is a trademark of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries.

Contacts

Roku
Mike Duin, +1 408-915-5038
mduin@roku.com
or
Econet Media
Reatile Tekateka, +27 83 374 2601
reatile@econetmedia.com

Contacts

Roku
Mike Duin, +1 408-915-5038
mduin@roku.com
or
Econet Media
Reatile Tekateka, +27 83 374 2601
reatile@econetmedia.com