Online movie streaming and rental hub launched in SA

VIDI, South Africa’s first video on demand service is now available. The service is available across multiple platforms and doesn’t require any special equipment like a decoder or dish.

South Africa’s easy-to-access online streaming entertainment hub VIDI, which allows viewers to watch TV series and movies as and when they want, was unveiled today.

VIDI is the first South African streaming service to offer both a monthly subscription option and/or an instant rental option across one platform. There is no programme scheduling but rather instant access to thousands of hours of entertainment.

Available across multi devices, viewers have two options: Unlimited Subscription to a library of movies and award-winning TV series for only R149 per month. Sign up is easy with the first month on subscription offered as a trial period. Viewers don’t require a dish or a decoder and they can cancel their subscription anytime as there are no contracts. Viewers also have the option to Instantly Rent the latest releases just off the circuit for R27 and a selection of premier library titles from as little as R15.

The brainchild of Times Media Group, VIDI is set to become the premier media streaming service in South Africa, offering an affordable and instant entertainment library, catering for all ages and tastes.

Viewers can watch VIDI content on multiple devices that can stream content, including PC, Mac, Laptop, Apple and Android Tablets and Smartphones. VIDI is not only an advert- free and schedule-free platform, but is also adaptive to internet speeds and can work from slow or fast internet connections.

Andrew Bonamour, CEO for TMG, says: “VIDI represents a significant step in Times Media’s evolution to a multi-platform media and entertainment company. It reflects a new entrepreneurial and innovative mindset for the group that we believe will bring long term growth and sustainability.

“It builds on the recent diversification of the company into a range of high growth broadcast and content assets in South Africa and in West and East Africa.

The R149 a month subscription offer allows for unlimited viewing of a library of more than 1000 hours of television series and over 100 movies and is constantly growing. VIDI also has a Kids Playzone, with a large selection of children’s content from TV series to the latest movie releases.

The Instant Rental Service offers a mix of 72 of the latest blockbusters just off the cinema circuit as well as select library titles, with new titles being added every month, ranging from R15 – R27 a title.

Adds Andrew Gill, MD of Broadcast and Content at TMG, “We have secured some of the very best available content from the biggest names in the industry. We will be constantly refreshing our offering with new and exciting films and series

Highlights include all seasons of this year’s top Emmy-winner Breaking Bad, an ABC branded block including popular titles such as Greys Anatomy, Cougar Town, Brothers and Sisters and Missing, as well as the all-seasons 10th Anniversary special of Lost, which premiered in the US 10 years ago this September. VIDI will also be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the classic, Friends in November.

Other TV titles include the popular and most viewed online series Supernatural and the teen drama mystery-thriller Pretty Little Liars. Movie fare over the following months includes the Oscar-winning drama’s Twelve Years a Slave and American Hustle, the highly acclaimed Gravity, blockbusters Divergent and Need For Speed and the recent Maleficent and The Lego Movie.

To celebrate its arrival, VIDI is offering a 30-day trial membership to South Africans.

How to become part of VIDI?

Go to www.vidi.co.za to register. You will need a credit card to sign up. (Certain current account/debit cards are accepted, depending on your bank.) Once you have signed up, watch on a PC, Mac, Laptop, Apple and Android Tablets and Smartphones. The device can be connected to a television via a HDMI cable for immediate big screen entertainment. “How to Guides” are available on the website to help with this process. The user needs to be connected to the internet (a minimum of a 1MB speed is required, but the higher your speed, the better the experience).

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