Nina TV launches on new African TV platform Black

Telenovelas channel Nina TV has launched in South Africa on mobile operator Cell C’s new entertainment platform Black.

Nina TV, which launched in 2015, has expanded its presence in English-speaking African markets, including Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.

The channel airs a mix of content from Globo, including titles such as

Precious Pearl, Caribbean Flower and Tropical Paradise, as well as some African titles through its relationship with TV Globo’s African content distributor Cote Ouest.

Kimberley Azria, manager of Nina TV, said: “It is with great enthusiasm that we join Black this year. We have created Nina TV with all the passion we have for content and for content editorial, and we are thrilled to introduce our telenovela channel to South African audiences.”

Cell C launched Black on November 14. The service offers live television, video-on-demand, gaming, betting and a host of other services. It includes a catalogue of up to 5,000 movies, series, music and documentaries; and more than 60 live TV channels, including the top five European football club TV channels, Manu TV, Barca TV, Liverpool TV, Chelsea TV and Real Madrid TV.

The full 60-channel package costs ZAR189 (€11.65), with a basic 18-channel service being available for ZAR69. The football channels are available separately for ZAR5 a day or ZAR25 a month. Day passes are also available for on-demand content, with titles also being available for purchase or rent.

Consumers can pay for Black via debit and credit cards, pre-paid vouchers and by using pre-paid airtime on Cell C’s mobile service.

The on-demand catalogue includes complete series of African shows such as Mary Kills People, Catastrophe, Power, High Rollers, Generations, Skeem Saam, Uzalo, and Survivor’s Remorse.

Cell C CEO José Dos Santos said that the company was in discussion with local production outfits to bring additional content to the service. The company is also investing in its own content.

“This really opens the market to more South Africans looking for content, providing affordable and relevant content to those that have not had access to it before,” said Dos Santos.