|
|
|
Partner(s)
|
|
|
Good morning!
|
Good news for the lovers of Disney and its portfolio of content in Africa. Disney+ has launched in South Africa, giving users in the country access to both its classic content and newer ones.
|
This move underscores the rising influence of the African market on streaming. Companies like Netflix have been steadily creating exclusive content for the African market. Amazon also has been working to pursue African consumers, announcing last month that it is looking for Nigerian talent for a slate of new content.
|
|
Below are the tech stories and news you need to know to start your day, carefully curated by Technext.
|
|
|
|
|
Summary of the news
|
- Disney+ is now available in South Africa
- Autochek has expanded into North Africa, as it acquired Morocco’s KIFAL Auto
- YouTube now highlights the most replayed parts of videos to let you skip the boring parts
- Google’s Russian business is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy
|
|
|
Disney+ Arrives Today in South Africa
|
|
Disney+, the streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, launched yesterday in South Africa, African Business reports. Standard pricing at launch is confirmed at R119 per month, or R1190 for an annual subscription, with sign-up information available at DisneyPlus.com.
|
With over 1000 films, more than 1500 series and a slate of 200 exclusive Originals from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and general entertainment from Star, Disney+ offers fans the greatest stories, all in one place.
|
Previously announced, subscribers will have access to Star Wars’ “The Book of Boba Fett”, both seasons of “The Mandalorian” and, from 27 May, the highly anticipated “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. In addition, Disney+ will be the home of the entire Skywalker saga, with Star Wars Episodes 1 through 9 streaming on the service.
|
|
Confirmed from launch, superhero fans will have access to over 60 Marvel Studios’ films including Academy Award®-nominated “Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings”, “Eternals”, “Avengers: Endgame” and “Captain Marvel”, and over 80 Marvel Studios’ series including “Moon Knight”, “Loki” and “WandaVision”.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Autochek expands into North Africa, acquires Morocco’s KIFAL Auto
|
|
Nigerian automotive technology startup Autochek announced yesterday that it had acquired KIFAL Auto, a Moroccan automotive technology startup, to drive its expansion into North Africa, TechCabal reports.
|
This announcement is coming about 7 months after it acquired the Ugandan and Kenyan operations of Cheki, an online car marketplace. It had initially acquired Cheki Nigeria, in 2020.
|
KIFAL Auto was founded by Nizar Abdallaoui Maane, a former BNP Paribas consultant, in 2019, to ease the process of buying and selling cars in Morocco. The company provides access to financing, warranties, insurance, and other services.
|
|
The startup was the first to be accepted into the inaugural cohort of CDG Invest’s 212 Founders accelerator programme, which aims to fund and support world-class startups linked to Morocco and Africa.
|
|
|
|
YouTube now highlights the most replayed parts of videos to let you skip the boring parts
|
|
YouTube will now highlight the “most replayed” parts of videos in its web player and mobile apps, The Verge reports. The feature was previously available as an experiment for YouTube Premium subscribers but is launching for all users today.
|
You’ll be able to identify the most popular parts of a video from a graph that appears behind its progress bar. Says YouTube: “If the graph is high, then that part of the video has been replayed often. You can use the graph to quickly find and watch those moments.”
|
|
Pretty simple! But, it’s interesting to think how this might split the attention of viewers — or, indeed, steer the work of creators, giving them yet another signal to identify exactly what viewers want to see (an aspect of the platform that some YouTubers say creates unwanted pressure).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Google’s Russian business plans to file for bankruptcy
|
|
Google says its Russian subsidiary is planning to file for bankruptcy because it can’t pay staff and suppliers, the Associated Press reports.
|
Russian state media reported Wednesday that the U.S. tech company’s Russian subsidiary, Google LLC, submitted a notice of its intention to declare bankruptcy to a national registry, Fedresurs.
|
The company said in a press statement that it filed for bankruptcy because the “Russian authorities’ seizure of Google Russia’s bank account has made it untenable for our Russia office to function, including employing and paying Russia-based employees, paying suppliers and vendors, and meeting other financial obligations.”
|
|
Google, which had previously suspended its business operations in Russia, said it would continue to provide its free services there, including Search, YouTube, Gmail, Maps, its Android operating system and its Play app store.
|
|
|
|
Latest in funding
|
|
|
|
|
Other stories we are following
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
    
|
|
|
|
|
|
