Amazon’s Prime Video, a big player in the streaming service market, has pulled the plug on its production operations in South Africa.
Prime Video ceases production in South Africa
This move marks a strategic shift from creating original content to prioritising licensing. Here’s a deeper look into what’s going on.
Prime Video’s decision seems to stem from a broader strategy focusing on regions and countries that contribute most to their growth.
As reported by Deadline, Gaurav Gandhi, VP for Asia Pacific, explained this is about “rebalancing our international organisation.”
The change has led to job reductions, particularly in roles related to original content production.
In a note to staff, Gandhi reaffirmed Prime Video’s commitment to being the top choice for streaming globally.
“As Mike [Hopkins] mentioned, we remain very optimistic about the long-term future of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios where we are taking significant steps and investments towards our long-term vision of making Prime Video the first-choice entertainment destination for customers worldwide,” he wrote.
How will this impact South Africa’s production industry?
Now, let’s talk about the impact on South Africa.
This move is significant, considering Prime Video’s position as a major streaming platform.
It means a reduction in locally produced original content, which could have implications for the South African entertainment industry.
However, Prime Video assures that existing projects set to launch in 2024 and 2025 will go on as planned.
The focus now is on licensing content, especially from regions like South Korea, Japan, and the US.
While this shift might offer a diverse range of international content to South African viewers, it could also mean less local representation on the platform.
This decision by the streaming platform mirrors what’s happening in Southeast Asia.
In that region, Prime Video is also reducing its focus on original productions, switching to a “leaner local operating model.”
The company is trimming its Singapore-based team and redirecting its strategy towards licensing content.
