Amazon Prime Video Recruits Former SuperSport CEO Gideon Khobane as Director of Prime Video Africa.
In a strategic move, Amazon has successfully headhunted Gideon Khobane, former MultiChoice executive and CEO of SuperSport, to spearhead their operations as the Director of Prime Video Africa. According to a report by Variety, Khobane will collaborate closely with key teams such as Prime Video Africa Originals led by Ned Mitchell, content acquisitions under Ayanna Lonian, and the product teams responsible for introducing new customer features.
In his new role, Khobane will assume the responsibility of managing programming and marketing strategies for Prime Video Africa’s impressive content lineup, which boasts highly anticipated titles such as:
- Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
- Citadel
- That Peter Crouch
- The Boys
- Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
- The Grand Tour
- Reacher
- Die Hart
- Shotgun Wedding
Gideon Khobane’s appointment as the Director of Prime Video Africa signals Amazon Prime Video’s long-term investment in sub-Saharan Africa, as reported by Variety. With over 18 years of experience in broadcasting, including roles as CEO of SuperSport International and MultiChoice’s group executive for general entertainment, Khobane brings valuable expertise to the table. Amazon Prime Video remains committed to providing a diverse and engaging service for its subscribers in Africa, further solidifying their dedication to the region’s entertainment landscape.
No immediate response was received from Amazon regarding the comment request.
Despite MultiChoice’s annual financial results emphasizing their confidence in the growth of Showmax, the company’s share price plummeted over 10% on that day. Additionally, the recent recruitment of Khobane by Amazon raises concerns about the assumed safety of MultiChoice’s prized asset, SuperSport, amidst increasing competition from multinational media empires.
MultiChoice’s Battle in the Streaming Arena
Despite increased competition in the African streaming market, Showmax, owned by MultiChoice, reported strong growth with a 26% year-on-year increase in its streaming service. However, Gideon Khobane’s new role at Amazon Prime Video may pose a challenge to Showmax as both platforms focus on local content. In contrast, MultiChoice’s pay-TV service, DStv, experienced a decline in subscribers. The company’s dominance in live sports streaming could face threats from global players like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The impact of Netflix’s potential live-streaming of sporting events and its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery remains uncertain for MultiChoice’s market position.
