28 Feb 2021

Since its inception in October 2020 the reception of UPICtv by Batswana has been good and promising.

In an interview with the public relations, marketing and communications manager for Botswana Fibre Network (BOfiNET) Ms Lesego Goitsemang said Batswana and the world at large had received the transformational platform positively.

She explained that UPICtv was a homegrown subscription-based streaming service that hosted a bouquet of local and international titles with a particular focus on locally produced dramas, movies, comedies and children’s programmes.

She added that the platform offered video-on-demand services and also included access to online TV and radio streaming.

She noted that during the first few weeks they had 2 440 registrations as viewers were excited to experience the platform using the 7-day trial period.

Subscription numbers, she said, were slowly increasing as consumers got acquainted to UPICtv and it continued to receive praise as it had been designed to transform the creative industry and commercialise the arts.

She also added that UPICtv had been well received in other countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Australia and this had contributed to the subscription numbers.

Viewers can enjoy UPICtv programmes from multiple devices such as mobile phones, tablets and or laptop/computers and UPICtv application is available on android and IOS, she explained.

Ms Goitsemang elucidated that with a monthly subscription of P75, one account can accommodate three users, which meant a user could give two more people access to the platform using their account.

“To date, UPICtv has secured 91 local titles, which accounts for 41 per cent of the overall content.

The aim is to increase local content on the platform to 87 per cent over the next three years.

Our strategy to grow the subscription numbers is to look at continuously ingesting local content, implementing different payment streams and collaborating with more industry experts, both locally and internationally,” she said.

She also noted that in the first year of operation the platform had unlocked employment opportunities for 3 804 Batswana and this would increase to a projected number of 5 840 in year three. ENDS