Project Isizwe’s Video-On-Demand (VOD) service, WiFi TV, that was launched in November last year, has reached 1 million views this month.
WiFi TV is a free and hyper-localised internet VOD service delivered by the City of Tshwane (CoT), providing unlimited access for users of the Tshwane Free WiFi network. The VOD service streams video content created by young film makers living in various areas of the CoT, offering relevant and engaging news and entertainment. They cover topics such as music, current affairs, entrepreneurship, religion, jobs and sport and were previously unemployed or under-employed.
The CoT created the platform to obtain a deeper insight into the lives of the city’s people while, at the same time, communicating with its citizens directly via video without the restriction of data costs. The My City channel, which houses video content directly from the CoT, has the most video views of the 5 available channels. The other channels, Sosh, Mams, Att’ville and CBD, have seen significant uptake as well.
In the future additional channels will be added to WiFi TV, offering more hyper-local content for communities in Tshwane. This will include dedicated music and sports channels to provide more entertainment and information for users.
The WiFi TV content is delivered via Tobetsa, the content portal for Project Isizwe’s Free WiFi network, available at more than 420 sites across CoT, which is set to grow to more than 600 sites by June 2015.
“We are very proud to announce that WiFi TV has enjoyed 1 million viewers in February alone,” said Alan Knott-Craig Jr, CEO of Project Isizwe, a non-profit organisation that aims to bring the internet to people across South Africa.
“We are thrilled that WiFi TV has been so well received by the people of Tshwane. The fact that communities are responding positively to the content provided across the platform is particularly encouraging.”
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