• SABC’s streaming platform, SABC+, is getting an upgrade.
• This is thanks to a new partnership with Mangomolo, a global OTT video platform.
• The partnership will improve the capabilities of the streaming platform and improve monetisation.

At the tail end of 2022, Telkom handed over control of its TelkomONE streaming platform to the SABC. The public broadcaster quickly rebranded the platform as SABC+ and it’s getting an upgrade.

This is thanks to a partnership with Mangomolo, a global over-the-top (OTT) video platform. The Mangomolo solution is comprised of four core products namely:

• MangoPlayer – a customisable, award winning video player that includes features such as offline viewing, subtitling and more;
• MangoSocial – Share livestreams to social platforms with a simple click;
• MangoHub – A tool that makes signing up and sharing content simpler;
• MangoSpeech – Machine learning tool that can transcribe videos easily.

The OTT provider also says that it can make monetisation easier which may be good news for the SABC.

“Our work with SABC is an exciting opportunity to deliver new OTT video experiences in South Africa. We’re making it simple to expand the SABC’s offering and deliver content to audiences on whatever device they want to use. As smart device adoption grows across Africa, we’re ensuring that broadcasters can connect with their audiences and grow viewership with a comprehensive OTT video platform,” said Wissam Sabbagh, Founder and CEO at Mangomolo, “We’re proud to be transforming the broadcast landscape in Africa and look forward to continually evolving SABC digital offering.”

Mangomolo claims it handles over a billion streams every month and serves over 30 million viewers globally. The partnership with the SABC is in keeping with the company’s growth aspirations.

Mangomolo is providing an end-to-end service, with monetisation capabilities, content management, media preparation and delivery all through a single platform. Mangomolo’s comprehensive suite of monetisation options and automation capabilities empowers its partners to maximise reach and revenue potential across all devices.

SABC+ features seven channels and 19 radio stations that can be accessed via the SABC website, Android and iOS apps, as well as Smart TV apps.

“Mangomolo has been a great partner on our OTT video journey and supported us as we grow our digital offering. The entire process has been seamless, allowing us to focus on our core of the business while the Mangomolo team takes care of the technology and other managed services,” says chief operations officer at SABC, Lungile Binza.

“We have a flexible foundation for reaching our audiences and expanding our offering over time. With Mangomolo, we’re able to deliver the content our audiences want across the devices they use,” the COO added.

Aside from live TV, SABC+ also hosts some shows on demand. The selection is limited but hopefully this new partnership changes that.