Former SuperSport CEO Gideon Khobane has been named Amazon Prime Video Africa’s new director.
Khobane will be in charge of expanding Amazon’s video streaming business across Africa.
He previously worked as CEO of MultiChoice Group-owned by SuperSport, from 2016 to 2020, and as MultiChoice group executive for general entertainment from 2018 to 2022.
According to Variety, Khobane will collaborate with Prime Video Africa Originals, directed by Ned Mitchell, content acquisitions headed by Ayanna Lonian, and the product teams responsible for introducing user features.
Having worked as a television executive for 15 years (including 8 at M-Net), Amazon is probably hoping that Khobane’s expertise will help it gain ground in the very competitive African streaming sector.
Specifically, “Khobane joins Amazon with a mandate to support the growth of the Prime Video service across sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa and Nigeria,” the firm explained.
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Monthly Subscription on Amazon Prime Video
In South Africa, a monthly subscription to Prime Video costs R79, and subscribers can stream content in 4K resolution on two devices at once. When compared to competitors like Netflix, Disney+, and Showmax from MultiChoice, that is very attractive pricing.
The Terminal List, The Boys, and the award-winning Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring may all be found on Prime Video. However, as it begins to take the African market more seriously, the streaming service has concluded that international content alone is not enough to set it apart.
With Khobane in his new position, Prime Video is demonstrating its long-term commitment to the region of sub-Saharan Africa and its dedication to providing its subscribers there with a service that meets their needs and interests.
Spokesperson for Amazon Studios
It’s the most recent move to strengthen Amazon’s executive team. Amazon’s Studios division expanded its local originals development team for South Africa and Nigeria towards the end of last year. In South Africa, Brendan Gabriel has been promoted to the role of senior unscripted creative executive, and Kaye Ann Williams has been promoted to the role of head of original scripted & movies.
Kemi Lala Akindoju is in charge of finding and developing the next African originals for Prime Video in Nigeria in her capacity as senior movies creative executive, while Mike-Steve Adeleye is in charge of doing the same for Prime Video on a global scale in his role as senior scripts creative executive.