iROKO Partners, the company that brings you Nollywood movies on the  iROKOtv platform has announced that it will be entering the DVD market for Nollywood movies in South Africa. The company said it will launch with 10,000 new titles on DVD.

 The new distribution channel will have ten of iROKOtv’s most popular Nollywood films available on DVD at a cost of R30 and are now on sale at Johannesburg’s local shops and markets including Soweto, Kempton Park, Rosettenville and Randburg.

Jason Njoku, the companies CEO said

 “Access is the immediate challenge for VOD companies here. Until Africa comes online, DVDs will continue to be the primary platform to consume content, which is why iROKOtv has now entered the DVD market.”

The official launch of  iROKOtv’s new DVDs will be at THE OPEN in Johannesburg.

This move is very unusual for a company that rose from providing content on the internet. Is iROKO saying online content overrated or is its iROKOtv+ platform not doing as well as expected?

We’ll be watching the space to see how iROKO’s competitors and the market responds to this. Meanwhile, what do you think about this move?

iROKOtv, the largest distributor of Nollywood content online, has announced a Windows Phone 8 app exclusively to Nokia’s Lumia range. The app gives iROKOtv and iROKOtv+ subscribers access to its catalogue of Nollywood movies on their mobile phones.

For the first three months of using the app, all subscribers get free movies after signup. Like the iROKOtv website, payment would be required for access to new movies under iROKOtv+

Users also have the ability to take actions they’ll usually make on the iROKOtv website – like the ability to search movies by actor, genre and name and also the ability to add movies to a “Watch Later” list.

Bonuses on iROKOtv for Windows Phone 8 on Nokia’s lumia phones include behind-the-scenes videos from movie sets, interviews with Nollywood stars and news from the entertainment industry.

In the past few years we’ve seen Nokia Nigeria push apps onto devices like the Danfo game by Pledge51 and Afrinolly by Fansconnectonline. So far, they’ve been quite successful as the native addition is a win-win for the developers and for Nokia.

For developers, they get more people to use their apps and for OEMs, people would buy phones pre-installed because of certain apps and features.

If you haven’t got a Windows Phone 8 running Lumia, we found a link to iROKOtv’s Windows Phone 8 app. We’re not sure it works but you can try downloading it here.

What do you think about iROKO partners launching this app exclusively to Nokia? Please leave us a comment.

iROKOtv, Africa’s largest online platform for streaming movies turns one today. The Company which owns licences to more than 5,000 Nollywood titles was started on 1st of December 2011 and since then has become a game changer in the online distribution of Nollywood and Ghanian movie content.

iROKOtv brought to you by iROKO Partners, the company that started off with NollywoodLove on Youtube and has pivoted into music streaming with its iROKING service.

Since launch, iROKOtv has 800,000 registered users, who watch Nollywood content from over 178 countries across the world. The service has also recorded almost 50million movie plays and has changed the way people all over the world access Nollywood content. iROKOtv has played a crucial in role in bringing Nollywood to the global audience and has inspired others to start similar platforms.

In March this year, iROKO Partners got $8 Million in funding from Tiger Global – a New York-based private equity and hedge fund run by an early investor in Facebook and Zynga. The company then introduced iROKOtv+ a paid platform for movies released in 2012.

According to the CEO of iROKO Partners, Jason Njoku, the majority of iROKOtv users are in the US and UK and the company is looking to increase its userbase in Africa in 2013.

iROKOtv gave us some insight into the world of Nollywood with the Infographic below.

Forbes has presented its list of the Top 10 Innovative Companies in Africa.

The only Nigerian company that made the list is Jason Njoku‘s Iroko TV. Also on the list are telecommunications giants, MTN& Econet. Food & Beverages company, Nandos and South Africa’s Woolworths also made the Top 10 List.

According to Forbes contributor, Mfonobong Nsehe who compiled the list, it is a subjective list which he believes to be quite accurate.

“Here are ten truly African companies, all leading in industries ranging from media and telecommunications to retail and restaurants and food & beverages.

These ten companies continually reinvent themselves, setting industry standards and radically changing their sectors.

These companies create, then recreate, then innovate. They exploit new ideas, products and services to produce dynamic and lucrative new businesses.”

Check Out  List of The 10 Top Innovative Companies in Africa:

1. Safaricom, Kenya

Industry: Telecommunications

East Africa’s largest mobile telecommunications provider easily ranks as the most innovative company in sub-Saharan Africa. Reason: M-Pesa, Africa’s first SMS-based money transfer service.

In 2007, Safaricom launched M-Pesa (M for mobile and Pesa- a Swahili word for money) which lets users deposit, transfer and withdraw funds via text message. A subscriber who wants to send money across simply visits a registered M-Pesa agent with the money and the phone number of the recipient.

For a fee of a little over $1, the agent sets up a virtual account for the subscriber, credits the account with the money, and then sends the amount to the recipient’s account.

A subscriber can send money even to a recipient on a different mobile network, who can cash it at any M-Pesa agent simply by presenting an ID and entering a secret code. Safaricom also pioneered a service which offers subscribers airtime on credit, introduced the payment of utility bills through the M-Pesa platform and also runs a robust customer loyalty award programe.

2. Nandos [South Africa]

Industry: Food & Beverages

Since opening its first restaurant in 1987, Nandos has expanded to over a thousand locations in 30 countries on five continents. Its success secrets may well lie in its marketing: Nando’s’ numerous provocative yet witty commercials, such as an ad featuring a dimwitted busty blonde and another which depicted Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe reflecting on happy moments he enjoyed with fallen dictators such as Colonel Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein have made Nando’s’ flagship flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken a hit among Africa’s young and hip. Nando’s meals are premised on traditional Mozambiquan-Portuguese dietary patterns and spices such as the ‘Pili Pili’. The company also manufactures a range of sauces which are sold in Nando’s restaurants and in supermarkets.

In 2010, Advertising Age magazine named Nando’s as one of the world’s top 30 hottest marketing brands. Nando’s also promises to allow anyone to eat free for life if they can prove they have been to all the Nando’s restaurants.

3. Nation Media Group [Kenya]

Industry: Media & Entertainment

East Africa’s largest media group is subtly transforming itself into an internet and financial services powerhouse. Between 2009 and now, the Nation Media group has launched N-Soko, a classifieds site which competes with Craigslist in Kenya, Twende Twende- Kenya’s first online travel site and Nation Hela, an international money transfer service which allows Kenyans in the Diaspora remit money to their families at home online.

The group’s flagship publication, Daily Nation is the highest-circulating newspaper in the East and Central African region. Daily circulation: 210,000. Its Business Daily newspaper is East Africa’s most popular business journal and its Television and radio stations consistently rank among the most popular among African viewers and listeners.

4. MTN [South Africa]

Industry: Telecommunications

In 2011, Africa’s largest mobile telecoms operator introduced its MobileMoney Insurance solution, Mi-Life insurance which provides money in the event of death of the subscriber or the next of kin. The Premium payment for insurance is deducted from the subscriber’s MTN Mobile Money wallet once per month. The service is available to the network’s subscribers in Ghana. MTN also wins innovation points for its MTN InternetOnTV, a device that allows users to browse the web from their TV at 3G speeds and MTN Traveller, a mobile App that allows mobile users to browse for, and book accommodation and car rental services using their phones.

5. Econet [Zimbabwe]

Industry: Telecommunications

Zimbabwe’s dominant mobile telecommunications company boasts lucrative operations in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Burundi and Rwanda and even owns a 3G license in New Zealand. Now, Econet is looking to build Africa’s largest solar power company. Last November Econet launched the Econet Power Station- a revolutionary solar power device which will allow individuals and families across Africa to light up their homes, charge their mobile phones and generally utilize energy at a relatively inexpensive cost compared to current solar energy devices currently available in Africa. Also, Econet Wireless in South Africa recently introduced Carry Me Home- a death and repatriation insurance policy exclusively for Econet Call Home customers.

6. Iroko TV [Nigeria]

Industry: Media & Entertainment

Iroko TV did not invent Nollywood – Nigeria’s immensely popular movie industry, but the Nigerian-based company helped revolutionize and glamorize it. Iroko TV, which has been dubbed the ‘Netflix of Africa’, is the world’s largest digital distributor of African movies. Leveraging on an on-demand TV platform, Nollywood Lovers around the world can watch the latest Nigerian Movies by paying a fee of only $5 a month.

IrokoTV typically buys the digital rights to the movies from Producers and currently has a catalogue of over 5,000 films and over 500,000 registered users.

7. Woolworths [South Africa]

Industry: Retail

One of South Africa’s largest retailers, Woolworths sells everything from food and clothing to homeware and electronics. The retail giant is also an emerging player in South Africa’s financial services scene. Through a joint venture with Absa Bank, Woolworths offers financial services such as loans, debit cards and home insurance solutions to its customers. Woolworths also manufactures its own brand of everything from sliced bread to grape juices and ice cream.

8. Pick n Pay [South Africa]

Industry: Retail

South Africa’s pre-eminent fast moving consumer goods retailer has a portfolio of 450 stores in South Africa, Zambia, Mauritius and Mozambique and a staff strength of 45,000 people.

Pick n Pay was among the earliest retail outlets in sub-Saharan Africa to include financial services in its service offerings. Among other things, select Pick n Pay outlets offer credit facilities on large purchases (like appliances), free of deposit. Pick n Pay also has a thriving ticket resale service, a travel comparison site and lets customers play the lottery online. Also, in 2010, the South African retail giant became the first to offer customers wine bottled in the eco-friendly PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate).

9. East African Breweries [Kenya]

Industry: Food & Beverages

East African Breweries is Kenya’s largest brewer. The Company produces, markets, distributes and sells an extensive portfolio of alcoholic beverages including its flagship beer brand, Tusker Beer and spirits such as Baileys, Smirnoff and Black Label. The Company also produces and distributes soft drinks such as Alvaro andMalta Guinness in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

10. Famous Brands [South Africa]

Industry: Food & Beverages

Famous Brands is Africa’s leading quick service and casual restaurant company. Famous Brands develops, operates and franchises restaurants which prepare, package and sell a menu of priced food items. Some of the restaurants under Famous Brands’ wings include Debonairs Pizza, Wimpy, Steers and FishAways. As of the 2010, the company’s global footprint stood at 1,764 franchised restaurants spread across South Africa, 17 African countries and the United Kingdom.

Nigerian entrepreneurs are finally getting serious about copyrighted items and permissions.  Jason Njoku, Founder, iROKOTV has sued Afrinolly – an app that streams nigerian content to mobile devices. Jason says Afrinolly is streaming content that has been exclusively purchased and licensed to iROKO Partners without permission from the content owners or iROKO Partners.

Afrinolly has even taken a step further and misrepresented itself with OEMs and telecommunication networks. iROKO Partners is therefore saying they’ll be seeking a N100 Million compensation.

You’ll recall that iROKOTV  is the premier streaming platform for Nollywood movies on the internet and has blown up in the last year. Getting over 500,000 signups on its website and its founder Jason Njoku made it to a Forbes list of Young African Millionaires to watch.

Jason Njoku says

“In an industry that is rife with misrepresentation, piracy and copyright infringement, we are left with no option but to begin legal action against Afrinolly, who have been illegally building their business on our content.

“We spend millions of dollars legally buying and organizing Nigerian content and hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in combating piracy and ensuring movie producers are remunerated properly for their content. It is simply unacceptable for Afrinolly to steal their work and profit from it. It has caused great harm to our Nigerian-based content providers and has placed great strain on the delicate balance and ecosystem that exists. Afrinolly, since its inception, has never bothered to even discuss with us or other content owners and has definitely not remunerated anyone to date.

“We have been approached by a number of Nollywood producers, who have expressed dismay that their movies are being exploited. As part of our commitment to the lifeblood of the industry, the producers, we see no other means than to seriously consider our options, look at how we can manage the damage done to our reputation and bring this extraordinary mass copyright infringement to a swift conclusion.”

Like in every copyright lawsuit there are questions to be asked regarding contracts. If iROKOtv is the sole content owner and distributor of certain nollywood movies, then Afrinolly is in trouble.

Source: Africamusiclaw via Modern Ghana

Image Credit: YNaija!

Dangote can start moving over while tech entrepreneurs like Iroko Partners Founder, Jason Njorku make their way to the Forbes lists.

Forbes lists Njorku, 31, as well as fellow Nigerian, Founder and CEO, Bakrie Delano Africa, Ladi Delano, 30, as one of their “Young African Millionaire’s To Watch.”

Njorku received $8 million in funding back in March from Tiger Global Management and with the success of iROKOtv so far, it is believed by analysts to be worth as much as $30 million. According to Forbes, “Njoku is the company’s largest individual shareholder.”

After the success of Nollywood Love, Iroko Partners launched iROKOtv last year and has continued to see growth since then with almost 500,000 users so far.

Other tech entrepreneurs made the list as well, including Yola Founder, Vinny Lingham, 33, from South Africa, whose company also made Forbes’ Top 20 Startups in Africa.

Six of the 10 entrepreneurs are making their money from technology or internet-based companies. I think that says enough about where the future lies.

To pull a page out of Ynaija‘s book, are you depressed or inspired?

Source: Forbes

Movie streaming service iROKOtv has revealed in its latest newsletter that it is nearing 500,000 users and as a result is rekindling out memories with classic Nollywood movies.

The classics include Most Wanted starring Regina Askia. I can’t even recall how many times I watched this movie growing up, it’s so awesome! Others are “Queen of the Night” and “Pam Pam” starring Nkem Owoh.

iROKOtv went live in November last year and hit 100,000 users within its first two months. The service has also been integrated into Facebook’s open graph so users can share as they watch movies. The company will begin partial paid subscriptions from July 1st.

Beginning from the 1st of July, iROKOtv will charge a $5 monthly fee for subscribers to its service. The subscription fee will however, apply to only movies released in 2012. You can watch all other movies for free.

TechLoy reports that iROKOtv has only 250 movies from 2012 out of its catalog of over 5000 movies. We’re not sure if the paid subscriptions will be ad-free or not. If they’ll be ad-supported, then there’s no point paying $5 a month for a catalog of 250 movies.

iROKOtv has also integrated with Facebook to show what movies users are watching on their Facebook timeline. That is likely to also drive adoption.

We’ll love to see how iROKOtv users respond to the subscription tariff come July 1.

iROKOtv is the first Nigerian company to go into deep integration with Facebook in this manner. To combat spam, Facebook is working with individual companies so only approved Social reader[in this case watcher] apps have the ability to publish stories to the timeline.

Here’s what happened when I watched my favorite iROKOtv movie of all time: BlackBerry Babes.

A small bar below the video on the website showed that I had switched on sharing to facebook. It also gives the ability to remove the story from my Timeline.

My Facebook Timeline automatically got updated to show that I had watched “BlackBerry Babes” on iROKOtv as well as updates from other integrated apps.

It’ll be great to see how this affects iROKOtv’s traffic in the next few months. Especially since its announcement of a $5 monthly subscription fee beginning in July.

Source: TechLoy

IrokoTV, the website that streams Nollywood on the internet has raised $8Million in over 2 rounds of funding led by Global Tigers, according to PandoDaily. IrokoTV went live at the end of 2011, after Jason Njoku ran Nollywood Love – a YouTube channel for Nigerian movies for about 2 years. In his first year of running the channel he made over $1Million and eventually quit YouTube this year to focus on IrokoTV.

Just a month after IrokoTV launched last year, it had over 100,000 registered users and over 1 million hours of videos had been watched on the site. Jason Njoku also expanded into music streaming with iROKING.

How will this money be spent?

Jason Njoku says IrokoTV’s London team will be doubled to 12 in the next few months. They’ll also open an office in New York to handle business development.

Iroko Partners has to be Nigeria’s fastest growning internet company. I don’t think we’ve seen this much investment in a Nigerian web company.