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Entertainment

Africa: Prime Video Cuts Funding in Africa, Middle East

todayJanuary 22, 2024 3

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Stakeholders have described it as a sad development for the African film and television industry.

Amazon Prime Video is undergoing a strategic shift in its international operations, directing its attention towards European original content, Variety is reporting.

The platform has decided to downsize and reduce funding and resources allocated to Africa and the Middle East, concentrating on its European originals.

By implication, the streaming platform would no longer fund original content from Nigeria and halt the commissioning of new original content in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa.

In the last few years, it has funded original Nigerian content like ‘Gangs of Lagos‘, ‘She Must Be Obeyed‘ and ‘LOL: Laugh Out Loud‘

However, shows from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region that are already in progress, such as “LOL ZA” and “Ebuka Turns Up Africa,” will proceed as planned.

Having commenced operations in Africa in 2016 and in Nigeria in 2021, Amazon Prime adds that it plans to make adjustments that will impact both content offerings and personnel in the African and Middle Eastern regions.

The restructuring does not affect pre-existing content already approved or contracted. However, the streaming service will cease commissioning original content in Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Going forward

In an email seen by Variety, Barry Furlong, vice president and general manager of Prime Video, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), explained the rationale behind the decision in the email.