M-Net Licenses 1,000 Hours to Pana TV

JOHANNESBURG: Pana TV, an online television service for African content, has picked up more than 1,000 hours of programming from M-Net to stream on the PanaTV.com platform.

The deal involves drama, documentary, lifestyle and kids’ content, as well as a number short films and Nollywood movies. Titles include, among others, the hour-long documentary Playing the Enemy, epic drama series The Wild and Jacobs Cross and the first two seasons of Cooking with Siba, a lifestyle show led by South African food editor Sibahle Mtongana.

Mandy Roger, the head of sales, acquisition and business development for M-Net, remarked: "At M-Net we look to work with forward-thinking partners who reflect our ethos in promoting African content to new audiences, and Pana TV is a prime example of this. It is a company that is at the forefront of the online content industry and has grown into one of the fastest growing internet platforms. In making this content digitally accessible we are able to reach international audiences—showcasing the quality of African TV and film production to the global audience and challenging preconceptions. We look forward to building on our relationship with Pana TV to grow African content’s global footprint in the digital space."

Pana TV founder Daniel Ogbonna added: "The partnership with M-Net, one of the largest television networks in Africa, gives us a broader content base that helps us in showcasing the talent in Africa. This is indeed, a fantastic partnership as we unpack the African story to the world."