MTN One TV, the streaming service launched by MTN Group across 16 African markets in June 2026, has unveiled its first commissioned original production, 100 Ways to Stay Single in Lagos. Produced by Nigerian filmmaker Mimi Bartels, the series premiered in Cape Town alongside MIP Africa and is currently available in South Africa, Ghana and Zambia, according to an MTN media release dated 30 October. Nigeria is not included in the initial rollout, and the company has not announced a local release date.
The omission is notable given the production’s Nigerian origins and the platform’s stated commissioning priorities. MTN’s content brief identifies Nigeria among its primary target markets, while the series is set in Lagos and produced by a Nigerian filmmaker. In the announcement, Bartels described the experience of seeing a production created in Nigeria reach audiences in other African markets. However, Nigerian viewers are still waiting for access to the title.
Burak Akinci, chief executive of MTN Digital Services, is leading the launch, which the group positions within its Ambition 2030 digital services strategy. The release identifies South African actor Bohang Moeko as a cast member but does not disclose the episode count, release schedule or rollout dates for markets not included in the initial launch. ShockNG, reporting from MIP Africa ahead of MTN’s announcement, also indicated that Nigeria would follow later.
Beyond the launch, the commissioning opportunity is a significant part of MTN One TV’s proposition for African producers. The platform is seeking several formats, including micro-dramas of approximately 30 episodes, each running two minutes; limited series of six to eight episodes; 13-part scripted and unscripted programmes; and feature films with running times of 60 to 90 minutes.
Its producer requirements include a registered production company and at least seven years of professional experience for lead producers. At MIP Africa, MTN One TV was a platinum sponsor and hosted a producer pitch session that connected prospective suppliers directly with the platform’s content team.
The service’s carrier-billing model is another distinguishing feature. Customers can pay through mobile airtime and mobile money, potentially making the platform accessible through payment channels already familiar to MTN subscribers. However, MTN has not published subscription prices for any of its launch markets, making it difficult to assess its positioning against existing streaming services or the affordability of its offering.
MTN One TV follows the group’s earlier MTN VU streaming service, which closed in 2017. The current platform operates through a partnership with Synamedia established in 2025. With MTN reporting 307.2 million subscribers at the end of 2025, the group has a substantial mobile customer base through which to develop its digital entertainment proposition.
The first original commission provides an early indication of the content formats and production relationships MTN intends to pursue. Its phased market rollout, however, raises questions about how commissioning, distribution and audience access will be coordinated across the countries the service is targeting.
