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22 items found for ""

  • Speed Date with Rochè Moola, Senior Client Partner at Reach Africa

    Who is Rochè? A mum and wife; dreamer and reader.   Tell us something that not many people know about you? I'm a wallflower who has learnt that moving around the room is not so bad after all.   What is the best part of your job? I love that I can offer a service that ultimately generates success for the brands and clients I am lucky to partner with. I also love working with a team of highly motivated and like-minded, passionate people; where being kind and putting people first is at the forefront of what we do.   What was the last thing you watched on Viu? Snow Angel - a Nordic Noir crime drama dubbed in Afrikaans.   What is your favourite app? Playbooks, Viu, Netflix and Prime are my downtime go-tos for entertainment.

  • Reach Africa on Moneyweb @Midday

    Our Sales Director Leslie Adams sat down with presenter Jeremy Maggs to discuss the way forward for pay-TV and streaming in SA.   “We all have this unending content need as consumers, but at the same time we also have this limited budget to apply to it. So the one who can meet all of those needs at the best cost, at the most easiest way to access, will obviously win.” – Leslie

  • Viu adds new bingeworthy Turkish drama series to its library

    Viu South Africa has added two new bingeworthy Turkish drama series – dubbed in Afrikaans with English subtitles to appeal to local audiences – to its library of exciting local and international content.   Eerste Liefde Laaste   (Twist of Fate) , is live on the streaming platform from 21 October. Childhood friends Ada and Kerem face unexpected challenges as they navigate adulthood. A fortune teller predicts their destinies are intertwined, and they find themselves at a crossroads after a betrayal from a trusted individual. Ada pursues her dreams while Kerem grapples with his feelings for Ada. The story explores their choices: should they embrace their fates or let their life’s twists tear them apart?  Also available on Viu South Africa from 21 October is  Die Stokman   (The Stickman) . This psychological drama series tells the tale of software developer Tamer, who becomes wealthy after creating a popular video game. Tamer struggles to move past his troubled background and after falling in love with Peri, a bank manager, Tamer abducts her and locks her in a bunker. While trapped in the bunker, Peri learns about Tamer's psychological wounds and their intense interaction starts to blur the line between captor and captive.    Turkish dramas are fast-growing in popularity with global audiences given the country’s strong tradition of storytelling, as well as the deep emotions and intense human interactions displayed on screen. The ability of characters to effectively portray a wide range of emotions may be why these stories resonate with audiences from various cultural backgrounds.   Data from Parrot Analytics reveals that the global demand for Turkish television series surged by 184% between 2020 and 2023, making Turkey a leading exporter of television shows worldwide. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, sales soared to a record-breaking $600 million in 2022, according to figures released by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO).   These two drama series find an ideal home in Viu, which is renowned for its diverse content offering. Viu features the country’s best-loved shows, including  Uzalo, Muvhango  and  Skeem Saam  while its international content library is home to hit movies, shows and series from Korea, Turkey, Scandinavia, Hollywood and more. Viu also offers viewers increased flexibility with affordable daily, weekly, or monthly subscription plans while its ad-supported option allows for free viewing, catering to cash-conscious South Africans. Moreover, Viu allows five simultaneous streams, unlimited downloads and no password-sharing restrictions.

  • Speed date with Lebone Mangaka, Associate Director: Business Development at Viu South Africa

    Seeing as this is our first date: are we at the cinema watching Deadpool & Wolverine, or cuddling up on the couch watching a K-drama on Viu?  We’re catching up on my favourite soapies on Viu - Skeem Saam and Generations! Tell us something we didn't know about you. I am the family’s trusted singer and can’t spend a week without singing a hymn or two with my grandmother on the phone - she’s my everything :-) How do you take your coffee? Irish. Very Irish. What series are you currently bingeing? I go onto Netflix from time to time to “check out the competition” - Vikings Valhalla is good. The beauty of being with Viu is the ability to go Premium anytime - I am currently addicted to Twisted Affairs; a Turkish series with English subtitles.   What is the one thing you want advertisers to know about Viu? Viu is committed to leading the conversation on premium curated content, delivering a quality audience to advertisers and answering the challenges our partners and clients bring to the conversation. We are in it for the long run!

  • Your faves could neva…miss a great party!

    If you missed the last Viu party, here’s what you missed out on!   Don’t make the same mistake twice – make sure you RSVP to the Cape Town event taking place at Harringtons this week or the Johannesburg event taking place at Monarch later this month.   See you there!

  • Speed Date with Heidi Schmidt, Senior Client Partner: Durban at Reach Africa

    Give us your elevator pitch: Who is Heidi? I am kind, generous and highly energetic. I love meeting new people. I enjoy Pilates and am a foodie – that’s me in a nutshell! What series are you currently bingeing? The last series I binged was Yellowstone and I am eagerly awaiting its return.  You're based in Durbs. In three words, how would you describe the media scene? Warm, full of potential and laid-back…a lot like Durban! What is the best thing about working for Reach Africa? We have an amazing team and leadership. I adore Reach Africa's culture and team spirit; we have phenomenal guidance and support.   What is the most used app on your phone, aside from email or WhatsApp? Definitely Instagram - Facebook is only for checking birthdays these days!

  • WHAT TO WATCH: Streaming on a shoestring

    From series to sports and smash hits, we round up the best content you can stream – for free. There is little better than curling up with something hot to watch when it’s cold outside.   But with Showmax having just announced a price increase and Netflix warning that another price hike is imminent, viewers after their content fix will face increased financial pressure, as big-name streamers continue to up their subscription fees to cover shrinking revenue bases.   But there is fantastic, free content out there, you just need to know where to look.   South Africans now have access to more than 30 streaming services. While some are starting to introduce ad-funded tiers, many of these streamers have been there from the get-go, with hybrid or advertising video on demand (AVOD) models, which sees viewers enjoying free content subject to a few ad interruptions.   These are great options for those watching their rands and cents, or even those who just want to add to their viewing options, with no additional cost attached.”   Here are our picks from across the world of entertainment that you can stream – all without hurting your wallet.   Missing your 7de Laan fix? Indulge in Nordic Noir on Viu Nordic Noir is an exciting genre of crime fiction set in Scandinavia that has seen a sharp rise in popularity over the past few years, thanks to its dark, morally complex and riveting storylines. Viu South Africa has recently added four Nordic Noir hits to its library – Trom, Snow Angels, the Dark Heart and Max Anger –  With One Eye Open – with each show dubbed in Afrikaans. For viewers missing the drama and scandal of 7de Laan, these filled-with-intrigue shows are sure to satiate your appetite, and best of all, viewers can watch on Viu for free.   For football fanatics, re-live your favourite football moments on Fifa+. Football fans can stream all-world, top quality football content for free on Fifa+. Go behind the scenes of the world’s most riveting games, relive football’s best moments and watch full match replays from previous FIFA World Cups.   Need some entertainment for the little ones? Check out YouTube Kids. You don’t need a pricey streaming subscription to entertain your kiddies: YouTube’s dedicated children’s channel has a great selection of free, ad-less shows for little ones, with tight parental controls that allow you to keep tabs on exactly what your little ones are watching – and for how long.   Looking for good LGBTQ+ movies and shows? Stream on eVOD. eVOD serves up a great variety of LGBTQ+ movies and shows, which viewers can stream at no charge.

  • Our Sales Director Leslie Adams chats to Jeremy Maggs on Hot FM about the viewing habits of Gen Z

    Listen up. “The way young audiences consume content is less determined by broadcast schedules and more driven by curated choice.”

  • Speed Date with Elouise Kelly, Country Manager at Viu South Africa

    Tell us something we didn't know about you. I’m probably the only South African who doesn’t like a braai. However, this doesn’t detract from my overwhelming sense of patriotism!   What series are you currently bingeing? Viu’s new Nordic Noir content, with Afrikaans dubbing:  Trom ,  Snow Angels ,  The Dark Heart ,  Max Anger - With One Eye Open . They are brilliant!   What is the best part of your job? Matching content to our audiences and being able to live track the performance of that content. You know very quickly if you’re on the right track (or not)!   If you were a fruit, what would you be and why? Probably a blueberry since it’s delicious; rich in antioxidants and nutrients with lots of health benefits, which is why it’s considered a superfood. I’d like to believe I’m a good human, bringing positivity, enthusiasm and knowledge to the spaces where I operate.   What is the one thing you want advertisers to know about Viu? We are a fantastic OTT streamer that services a core South African audience via a free platform, offering opportunities for access and engagement. An advertiser’s dream!

  • Rage against the TV screen: is Gen Z done with TV?

    The data is in, and it’s official: things are not looking  good for South African television. Especially when it comes to younger viewers.   The latest MAPS data overview from the Market Research Foundation shows a massive decline in television viewership over the past two years: In Q1 2021, 72% of respondents claimed to have tuned into a TV channel in the past week, while in Q3 2023, only 54% said they had. And this is only expected to grow, with loadshedding anticipated to make its comeback as the country enters its post-election era and settles into winter. In parallel to this, streaming is growing – and FAST. According to the Broadcast Research Council of SA,  almost a third of TV viewing now happens online. An estimated eight million South Africans now have access to a plethora of streaming services .   According to the MAPS data, Gen Z is driving the shift to streaming (42%), followed by Millennials (41%), with Boomers only making up around 4%. And, as expected, Gen Z’s viewing happens mainly on mobile.   This evolution away from traditional TV makes sense, when you consider that more so than any previous generation, Gen Z's life is lived on demand. If they want something to eat, they can order a takeaway via Uber Eats with a simple tap. If they want to listen to music, Spotify will not only find them the exact song they're after but will also curate playlists for them based on their demonstrated preferences.   And when they want to watch something, there are now over 30 streaming services available  locally, which they can toggle between to their heart’s content on any device of their choosing, earning them the title of ‘ Netfickle .’   To understand the mindset of Gen Zs and younger Millennials, you need to consider the context. This generation grew up during the most optimistic time in SA's history; they were born after apartheid, the much-loved Nelson Mandela was president, and SA had just won the Rugby World Cup. It was SA’s golden years; a time of joy, consolidation and celebration.   But then they discovered hardship. They saw a recession, State Capture, a pandemic, several wars, the cost of living crisis, and a host of other challenges. They know real depression. They've seen how easy it is to lose everything you've worked hard for.   And so they prioritise happiness and experiences over stability. They might not prioritise owning property; they may prefer renting and rather spending their money on something that brings them status and joy now . They want experiences over luxury items; fulfilment over stability; they believe there are multiple ways – not only one way.   It is this growing up with life on demand that has steered them firmly away from the ‘appointment viewing’ offered by linear TV. Gone are the times when the household would plan the day around watching a show that airs at a certain time – Gen Z has never really known this reality, having grown up in a world powered by the internet.   They won’t wait till 7pm to watch the news or catch the morning papers – they will scan a news site immediately when they want to know something. And those that are doing well understand this – most of Disney’s new releases now happen on its Disney + app at the same time that they appear on cinema, for example.   Free will play a key role here. With the rise of AVOD and hybrid streaming services such as Viu – which has a huge youth viewing contingent and features SA’s biggest shows such as Skeem Saam and Uzalo – paid TV has naturally become the biggest victim of streaming. Free TV is still doing well,  with SABC 1 being the country’s most-watched channel, followed by E-tv, SABC 2 and SABC 3. However, what we’re now seeing more and more – especially among younger SA viewers – is ‘platform stacking’. They might glance at the TV when it is on in the household and be pulled into a show, but their viewing is mainly happening online via streaming platforms such as Viu, at their convenience. And don’t believe the myth that expensive data is a barrier to entry; Gen Z has found a way around this, and best believe they are getting their content. There is no doubt that the streaming landscape is the space to watch right now, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves over the coming months.

  • The opportunity for brand integration in the Ad-blocker Era

    You’ve been planning your new advertising campaign for months. Marketing budgets have been blown on a television commercial (TVC), media has been booked, and finally – after spending what felt like weeks in post-production (but which, in reality, was really only a few days) your new ad is ready. And it’s the perfect blend of need-to-know product info and humour, packaged into a punchy 30-second format that has Loerie written all over it. You cannot wait for your audience to see it and for those product sales to roll in.   Except… when the TVC flights, the sales aren’t rolling in quite as you expected. Perhaps your half-a-minute masterpiece missed the mark? Or, could it be that the number of people who actually watched your ad was a whole lot lower than you thought? It’s very likely the latter, as an estimated 80% of TV commercials are found to have no effect at all. There are a couple of possible reasons for this.   Viewers are now consuming their broadcast content in a number of ways and across multiple channels – not just linear TV. Streaming audiences are growing, and while many streamers are now starting to introduce advertising-funded subscription tiers (while others, such as Viu, have been there from the get-go with a hybrid subscription and advertising-funded model), a great deal of streaming content is still without ads. In fact, Nielsen’s Gauge study recently revealed that almost half of the total streaming market is ad-free. As a result, you could be missing audiences entirely.   And if your ad is online, you’ll need to contend with the growing use of ad-blockers. According to the report , Ad blockers and advocacy: Why Gen Z is blocking paid ads in favour of real voices, almost 100% of Gen Zers will skip a commercial if given the option, and 63% use ad blockers to side-step online ads.   Yet another factor is the so-called ‘attention economy’, with one study from Microsoft Corp finding that the average human attention span has shrunk from 12 to eight seconds. But, as Adams points out, if our goldfish attention spans are solely the problem, how are we spending hours binge-watching series or doggedly scrolling through Instagram?   The issue is more likely to be a lower tolerance for that which interrupts us from doing what we want to do. Now, there is much more noise and far more brands vying for our attention – and we have a lot less time. If an ad can be embedded into content in a way that seamlessly holds the consumer’s attention, then that brand has a fighting chance.   According to research from Lumen, an increase in ad view time is directly correlated with an increase in sales, finding that a commercial watched for three seconds meant a sales conversion on 50% of occasions.   Picture this. You’re watching an episode of Generations, and your show is interrupted by a Steers advert, right at a cliff-hanger scene. Frustrated, you use the opportunity to check your emails on your phone. For the brand, this disruption was a missed opportunity to connect.   Now, imagine if that cliff-hanger scene was built around the brand. There’s Karabo and Tau tucking into a juicy-looking burger while plotting the demise of their rivals. You’re no longer annoyed – and when dinner time rolls around, a subconscious craving has been ignited, so you open Mr. Delivery and order a Steers burger.   This is the power of brand integration, which refers to the incorporation of brands or products into content. It provides a powerful opportunity for brands, as it allows them to reach consumers in a receptive space, and in a way that is unskippable and unblockable. Brands can be integrated into influencer content, the script of a TV show, and even in-game advertising.   Here's three things for marketers who are keen on exploring brand integrations to consider.   Know your audience Rule number one of advertising applies here too: know your audience. Are they watching Skeem Saam or The Crown And is this show an organic fit for your brand? Does your consumer spend the bulk of their time on TikTok or playing Candy Crush? Do they catch their favourite shows on their TV, laptop or mobile phone – or perhaps all three?    You need to know what your target audience looks like; the content they’re consuming, and how they consume that content. Then, tap into these insights and find a way of delivering your message in a way that resonates with them.   Understand platform and context TikTok has taken every social media lesson and cultural moment and rolled this out at scale and speed, making certain brands or products fly before the advertising world even truly comprehends how to tap into this.   Understand the platform opportunities that exist, identify the ones that make the most sense for your brand and then figure out how to leverage these. For example, gaming – which sees a captive audience – offers an opportunity to insert your brand into this virtual world, such as an outdoor billboard on a football field or next to a racetrack  – but, it needs to make sense for your brand.   Work with the right partner As this is a relatively new world – and with platforms and audience preferences evolving at rapid rates  –  it is important to work with a partner that specialises in integrations, with the necessary network, knowledge and expertise.   That’s where Reach Africa comes in. The right brand integration partner will help you identify the best platforms and approach to connect with your audience, helping you get real return on your investment.

  • Speed date with Ryan Silberman, Founder of Reach Africa

    Give us your personal elevator pitch. I am passionate about creating opportunities and empowering others. To me, the hallmark of great leadership is walking into an environment where everything is running smoothly, and nobody even knows who the leader is. In the future, how do you see the world of brand integration evolving? Brand integration will evolve to the point where the audience seamlessly engages with the brand without even realising it. The fit between the brand, content, and audience will be so natural that the brand presence feels intrinsic. Following this integration with a direct call to action and opportunities for brand engagement will define the future of successful brand integration. What series are you currently bingeing? The Bear on Disney +, Owning Manhattan on Netflix, and The Outing on Viu. How do you take your coffee? Black, no milk, no sugar. What is one thing you want your advertisers to know about Reach Africa?  We prioritise working closely with our customers to truly understand the challenges they face. By doing so, we can better assist and serve them, breaking through perceived barriers to help them achieve their goals.   The one thing they should know is that they can always challenge us.

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