Exclusive: NBC cuts African deal with Zuku

Zuku, the African pay TV and triple play service, has inked a content deal with NBC Universal International TV Distribution, TBIvision understands. The agreement gives Zuku pay TV rights to a raft of NBC movies across East Africa.

It is thought that the pay TV platform is close to agreeing similar deals with other Hollywood studios.

The NBC agreement gives Zuku movies in the second pay TV window. Titles include The Incredible Hulk, The Mummy 3 and the Jurassic Park trilogy.

Zuku is run by Wananchi Group, which was set up in 2007 and serves consumers in East Africa under the Zuku brand. Hannelie Bekker, managing director of Wananchi Programming, said: “This continued investment in range and choice is part of Zuku’s ongoing commitment to providing an affordable variety of content to East Africans. We are excited to be working with NBCUniversal to bring this range of second pay library movies to viewers. The market in Africa is changing and we are delighted to be at the heart of it.”

Kenya-based Wananchi raised an extra US$58 million in financing last year and plans to roll its pay TV, telephony and Internet service out to ten countries in the greater East Africa region.