What will SA’s VOD market look like in the next few years?

South Africa is likely to accommodate between 692 000 and 917 500 active video-on-demand (VOD) households by 2020, according to new research by BMI-TechKnowledge.

The finding is a part of the BMI-T’s South African Consumer Digital Lifestyle Research Programme, which surveyed over 1500 respondents in metropolitan areas. It may be noted that it added VOD and fibre to the home to the survey for the first time this year.

The research concluded that the  subscription based television providers and mobile telecommunications operators are in a prime position to offer VOD service to consumers – more so than the existing pure-play VOD operators.

When respondents were asked to name VOD providers in South Africa, only 18% mentioned pure-play VOD providers. What stands out in the VOD space is the strength of the leading subscription TV player (MultiChoice, with DStv) in terms of awareness, contrasted against low levels of awareness of the pure-play VOD providers.