South African residents on a budget have 11 free-to-watch streaming services from which to choose, giving them access to a broad range of content provided they have an active Internet connection.
As Internet access expands in South Africa, more residents are ditching traditional TV broadcasts in favour of streaming services. As a result, cinemas and traditional broadcasters are feeling the pain.
Multimedia and television journalism lecturer at the Durban University of Technology, Siphumelele Zondi, said cinema chains and pay-TV broadcasters are seeing declining audience numbers.
“As South Africans are continuing to get a lot more Internet access at home, you’re finding a lot more people getting access to these streaming services,” said Zondi.
“It’s not just television that’s struggling here. Cinema chains have also said that they are struggling. Ster-Kinekor in South Africa has shut down some of its cinemas.”
