MTN Unveils One TV Africa Backed by 307 Million Subscribers
MTN has tried digital entertainment before. It did not stick. This time, the bet is bigger, and the infrastructure behind it is fundamentally different. MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecoms company, has launched MTN One TV, a streaming platform that gives the operator another shot at Africa’s video entertainment market nearly a decade after its South Africa-focused FrontRow service failed to gain traction. The MTN One TV Africa streaming platform is now rolling out across multiple markets simultaneously.
MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.
The proposition gives customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings. The payment layer is what separates this from every previous attempt. Anyone with an MTN mobile line can stream video and pay for content using airtime balance, mobile money accounts, or direct mobile billing.
For many African consumers, most of whom do not have credit cards and have not used international payment systems, this is crucial.
MTN One TV Africa: How South Sudan Pointed the Way
MTN has been building toward this moment for years. In January 2023, TV Anywhere Africa, MTN South Sudan, and Target Media partnered to launch MTN TV+, South Sudan’s first mobile television platform.
MTN TV+ was a mobile streaming service that offered live television channels and video-on-demand content on smartphones and smart devices. It featured both local and international channels. The platform was built using modern digital media and streaming technology.
The South Sudan pilot project laid the foundation for the broader launch. MTN’s April 2025 technology partnership with Synamedia further strengthened the platform. Together, they now support the rollout of MTN One TV across Africa.
Speaking at the South Sudan launch, Abraham Anyang, Group CEO of Target Media, said: “If we want to put South Sudan content on Netflix, it is impossible. But today, we have our own platform on which to tell our stories.” MTN One TV is now expanding that vision across the continent.
MTN’s entry could significantly challenge Canal+. Unlike Canal+, MTN has direct access to more than 300 million mobile subscribers across Africa.
On June 3, 2026, Amazon launched its full Prime membership service in South Africa. The R59 monthly package includes Prime Video, free delivery, shopping benefits, gaming perks, and exclusive deals. Amazon uses entertainment to keep customers within its wider retail ecosystem.
MTN is taking a similar approach, but one built on African infrastructure.
“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,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN Group’s chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.
MTN One TV is also designed as an open ecosystem. It aims to help creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and content partners reach larger audiences through MTN’s continental network.
