On February 24, 2026, Senior-level broadcasters, content creators, and technology pioneers from across the continent gathered in Cape Town, South Africa, for the opening day of the OTT Content Streaming Summit Africa 2026. Hosted by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and its rapidly growing platform, SABC+, and convened by this platform, the summit focuses on the theme of “Access, Localisation, and Value” in the evolving Pan-African digital landscape.
The first day of the summit was marked by a major milestone announcement: SABC’s OTT platform, SABC+, has officially surpassed 2 million registered users in just over a year. This achievement highlights a massive appetite for localised over-the-top (OTT) content in South Africa.
In a virtual keynote address, South African Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, reflected on the dream of a Pan-African streaming giant. He noted that the primary hurdle is not technology or financing, but Africa’s “extraordinary, irreducible cultural diversity”. With 54 countries and thousands of languages, any platform attempting to serve the continent from a central hub risks becoming too generic. The consensus among speakers was that localisation—honouring audiences in their specific regions—is the only path to sustainable success.
SABC Group CEO Nomsa Chabeli challenged delegates to move beyond discussion and toward measurable progress. “As Africans, we are very good at conversing… but we need to ensure that we have key action items,” Chabeli stated, urging the “brain trust” in the room to solve the impasse surrounding content funding and industrial growth.
A high-energy panel discussed establishing an African Content Fund. Industry experts, including Thierry Cassuto (Both World Pictures) and Mpumezo Vuzane (Known Associates Entertainment), argued that while funding exists (such as Afrixem Bank’s US$1 billion commitment to film/TV), the “plumbing” is broken. Traditional financiers often lack an understanding of IP as an asset class, making it difficult for creators to secure investment without global star power.
While content remains the primary draw, David Makubyane (SABC) emphasised that “data is queen”. The rise of FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) and AVOD (Advertising Video on Demand) models was identified as the most viable path for the price-sensitive African market.
Steve Deblomme (Eutelsat) addressed the infrastructure gap by introducing DVB-NIP, a new native IP broadcast system. This technology allows users in rural or congested areas (such as hotels and schools) to receive high-quality OTT streaming and VOD content via satellite without relying on unstable internet connections.
Looking Ahead to Day Two – “Africa does not lack audiences, nor does it lack mobile penetration, and nor does it lack content. What we must no longer lack is agency.” — Stanley Benjamin Similo, President of the Southern African Broadcasters Association (SABA)
About the OTT Content Streaming Summit Africa: The OTT Content Streaming Summit is Africa’s premier event for senior broadcasters, electronic media practitioners, and technology innovators. Now in its 6th year, it serves as a critical forum for evaluating strategic operational issues and fostering collaboration within the African media ecosystem.
To view highlights from Day 1, please click here.
