MTN launches One TV to challenge Streaming giants

MTN Group has launched MTN One TV, a new streaming platform that combines live television, local content, and international programming.

The company announced the platform on Monday, saying MTN One TV will offer different viewing options depending on the market. Customers will be able to access free ad-supported content, pay-per-view programmes, and subscription packages.

The launch gives MTN another opportunity to compete in Africa’s growing streaming market. Unlike many rivals, the company can immediately reach millions of users through its existing telecom network. MTN reported 307.2 million subscribers across 16 African countries at the end of 2025.

MTN said it will roll out the service in phases across its markets. Customers will also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other local payment methods where available.

“The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content,” the company said. “Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods.”

Many telecom operators are expanding beyond voice and data services into fintech, digital content, and entertainment. By bundling connectivity, payments, and media, operators hope to increase customer engagement and unlock new revenue streams.

MTN believes its network reach and payments infrastructure can help solve some of the challenges that have slowed streaming adoption across Africa. These challenges include payment barriers, affordability concerns, and limited access to international bank cards.

The launch also comes at a time of change in Africa’s streaming industry. In April, Showmax shut down as a standalone service after its parent company, MultiChoice, shifted focus to DStv Stream. The move created an opportunity for new players looking to attract streaming audiences.

“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN Group’s Chief Commercial, Strategy and Transformation Officer.

“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies.”

The platform builds on MTN’s partnership with video software company Synamedia, announced in April 2025. At the time, both companies said they would develop a streaming platform for African markets, starting with Nigeria before expanding further.

MTN has experimented with streaming before. In 2014, it launched FrontRow, a video-on-demand service in South Africa. The platform later became VU and offered movies and television shows through subscriptions and pay-per-view rentals.

Despite price cuts, the service struggled to compete with Netflix and Showmax. MTN eventually shut it down in 2017.

The company later launched MusicTime, a music streaming service that gained modest traction in several markets. However, it remained focused on audio content and never expanded into a broader entertainment platform.

MTN said MTN One TV represents its first major attempt to build a pan-African video platform by combining content, payments, and telecom infrastructure under one service.

The company plans to tailor content partnerships and viewing experiences to individual markets before gradually expanding the platform across its footprint.