French online television platform Molotov has left France. The startup has just announced the arrival of its service in seven French-speaking African countries.
“Ivory Coast was launched three weeks ago, already generating tens of thousands of paying subscribers. Senegal will follow in January, Cameroon in February, Burkina Faso in March, Tunisia in April, then Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the company announced in a statement.
Here Is What You Need To Know
- Molotov’s service service makes it possible to watch TV programs online through an application, on TVs or other screens.
- Co-founded in 2016 by Jean-David Blanc, at the origin of the Allociné site, Pierre Lescure, former president of Canal +, and Jean-Marc Denoual, the platform will first broadcast “about fifteen local linear African channels” then “about thirty from here to spring ” and “ replay and on-demand programs.”
- Its African users will also have access to Mango’s new free ad-supported video on demand (AVoD) service.
Focus on Europe, South America and Asia
Molotov’s ambition does not end there. It also has announced that it wants to settle in the rest of French-speaking Africa “during the quarter”, then in Europe, South America and Asia. In French-speaking Africa, the monetization of the paid offer will be based on the payment solutions provider Digital Virgo, allowing daily payment via the mobile operator.
“Molotov on the one hand helps viewers discover new content, but also provides publishers, channels and SVoD services with the ability to be easily discovered and more frequently used,” Jean-David Blanc said in the statement.
The platform claims 13 million users, including some 200,000 paying subscribers. Its free basic offer allows you to watch non-linear channels and programs on connected television, mobile or computer.
Does this internationalization mark a better sign for the startup?
Indeed, the hard knocks have been numerous in recent years. After an unsuccessful takeover attempt by Altice in 2019, Molotov benefited from an emergency financing plan. 40 million euros then replenished its coffers, including 30 million provided by Xavier Niel and 10 by Idinvest Partners. When they came to the rescue, these two players had therefore taken 40% of the company’s capital.
At the same time, the platform is in conflict with TF1 and M6. Last February, Molotov filed a complaint against the latter before the French competition authority for “abuse of position and understanding”, concerning the creation by TF1, M6 and France TV of the rebroadcasting platform Salto. This fact was denied by the latter, emphasizing the profitable nature of their tool. The battle rages on and has not stopped since.
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New offers to reinvent itself?
Either way, Molotov is multiplying its ideas to go up the slope. The startup reorganized in 2020 to market its technological distribution solution to professionals. Last June, it announced the creation of a new offer for the media, operators and communities, etc. They can now broadcast channels and videos on demand on the platform, free or paid, thanks to a “turnkey solution”, welcomed the platform. Mango, the free video on demand service, launched in November, is the latest of recent services offered to bounce back.
Behind these new offers and the start of internationalization, Molotov hopes to emerge from turbulent years and to forget the criticisms about the quality of service in busy times, such as football game nights.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer