African Media start-ups merge to create Restless Global – the “Go-To company for African content”

Buni Media through its CEO and co-founder Marie Lora-Mungai and Tendeka Matatu -one of Africa’s most prolific film producers recently announced that have concluded the merger of their assets and created Restless Global – hoped to become the “Go-To company for African content”.

Restless Global will unite Matatu’s and Lora-Mungai’s existing companies Restless Talent Management, Ten10 Films (production and distribution), Buni Media (production, animation & film studios) and Buni.tv (Video On Demand) under one umbrella.

Restless Global will offer everything from finance and production to distribution and exhibition.

Restless Global is also producing more of its Ogas at the Top -a political puppet satire which is up for an Africa Magic Award. Its’ video on demand platform Buni TV has just launched an embeddable player and an affiliate program. Payments can be taken within the player and affilates will get 10 percent of the payment. It is aimed at film-makers who already get 50 percent of the revenues from online sales, making their take 60 percent.

It is also integrating different payment methods including the Paga platform in Nigeria. There is still some free content on the site but largely sourced from other sites with the main emphasis on pay-for content model. There are now 13,000 registered users and paid subscriptions are slowly growing.

According to Lora-Mungai, the merger and creation of Restless Global places both companies in a stronger position at every step of the value chain.

“We are excited by the opportunities. Africa is the next big media frontier. Nigeria’s Nollywood is now valued at US$5.1 billion, South Africa is attracting more international productions than ever before, the African television sector is growing at an exciting pace, and mobile data use (including mobile video) will increase 20-fold by 2020. Over the past 10 years, Tendeka and I have been independently very successful at creating outstanding media properties and we are now looking forward to joining forces as Restless Global to leverage Africa’s massive opportunity.” added Lora-Mungai.

Source: Balancing-Act Africa