AFCON2023 Led to a 300% Rise in Revenue for Content Creators Across Africa
According to the latest data released by StarNews Mobile, Africa’s premier video streaming platform, content creators across Africa witnessed a 300% increase in earnings during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), highlighting the significant rise in the consumption of locally tailored content from the region.
Based on the statistics obtained from StarNews Mobile’s platform, creators in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Cote D’Ivoire observed a surge of 200%, 300%, and 400% in viewership and revenue, respectively, between December 2023 and February 2024. Overall, the company streamed over 4 million content pieces per month to football enthusiasts through its AFCON-related channels, attracting 500,000 subscribers for tournament-specific content.
In reference to the data, Guy Kamgaing, the Founder and CEO of StarNews Mobile, remarked, “While the primary focus of this year’s AFCON has been on the commercial expansion of African sports, these figures underscore the transformation occurring in another rapidly growing sector on the continent – the content industry. The data undeniably indicates a substantial demand for high-quality, locally tailored content from African creators. However, to fully capitalize on this market opportunity, it is imperative that we empower both sides of the content ecosystem.”
Kamgaing further added, “Merely offering a platform for African creators to showcase their talents is insufficient. We must invest in their prosperity by providing them with the financial security, autonomy, and flexibility needed to create, enabling them to fully harness the immense value held by the continent and its diaspora’s 1.2 billion consumers.”
StarNews Mobile, launched in 2017, offers African content creators a unique opportunity to monetize their work through a subscription model. With over 4 million subscribers and a thriving community of more than 120 content creators, the platform has made a significant impact. Operating in six countries, including Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte D’Ivoire, Congo, Benin, and Ghana, StarNews Mobile has established key partnerships with major telecom operators like MTN and Orange. The platform has secured over $8mn in funding, with its most recent raise being a $3mn pre-Series A funding round in October 2023, led by Janngo Capital and with participation from French football players Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jules Koundé, and Mike Maignan.
The global creator economy is estimated to be worth $20bn, and Africa’s young population presents a promising opportunity for African content creators. However, traditional platforms pose challenges due to differences in international payment methods, cellular data limits, and cultural differences. StarNews Mobile addresses these barriers through its partnerships with local mobile providers. By directly billing subscribers to their phones and leveraging SMS technology, the platform eliminates payment and data limit roadblocks. Content creators can also charge their followers a small daily or weekly fee, reducing their reliance on ads and focusing on engaging and retaining their audience.
StarNews Mobile has leveraged its partnership with Orange, one of the main sponsors of AFCON 2023, to enhance fan engagement during the tournament. Initiatives include creating physical fanzones across its markets, offering data subscription bundles, and dedicating virtual channels on its platform to the tournament.
The 2023 AFCON has been deemed one of the most thrilling in the tournament’s history by sports analytics platform Opta. The group stage alone this year saw an average goals-per-game rate of 2.47, marking the highest-scoring tournament in 15 years. CAF, the organisers of AFCON 2023, experienced a 100% surge in media accreditation applications and secured extensive global broadcasting deals, propelling the tournament to new heights of worldwide popularity.
