South Africa's first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) video-on-demand (VOD) channel has been launched with the aim to provide content "that unashamedly tells the stories of Africa's LGBT community".
"Traditional TV channels have historically offered only small smatterings of one-dimensional LGBT content that ironically reinforces stereotypes instead of shattering them. PrideTV reverses the trend to restrict access to LGBT themes by South African and African broadcasters," says Joanne Raphael Katz, PrideTV's content manager.
Katz says the demise of the Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival dramatically reduced access to independent LGBT films "while homophobic and transphobic viewer complaints and repressive censorship laws across the continent devastate diversity".
PrideTV says it is riding the wave of new VOD online services that are revolutionising the entertainment world and will provide SA, and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, with an affordable and growing library of LGBT movies and series.
PrideTV costs R79 a month, or R790 for a 12-month subscription, and has launched with over 200 content titles from all over the world and across all genres - "from classic and edgy to new and heart-warming". The new VOD player says around 65% of the content is gay male focused and 35% deals with lesbian and transgender themes.
"We believe there is a gap in the market. It's about time the neglected LGBT community has a voice, with content that spans all the issues that people can relate to. Not to mention the entertainment value that we are offering," says Katz.
"We know LGBT people are early adopters of technology so we're confident they will join the online streaming revolution. The best part is that we can reach anyone in Sub-Saharan Africa."
New content will be loaded onto PrideTV on a regular basis and the VOD channel plans to present more local content in future, including producing its own original content, like chat shows as well as streaming live from events.
"We want to create not just a movie site but also a lifestyle site for the LGBT community that works with and supports the community," says Alicia Antill, PrideTV's marketing media officer.
The VOD service can be accessed via broadband Internet or WiFi connection and can be viewed on smart televisions, desktop computers, laptops, tablets or mobile phones - with both iOS and Android operating systems catered for.
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