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Online film distribution as a viable platform for South African feature films.
Mfolo, Boitshoko
Mfolo, Boitshoko
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Abstract
Despite the growth of the South African film industry, distribution remains one of its central challenges. The aim of this research was to investigate the viability of online distribution as a platform for South African feature films. In essence, the research did a SWOT analysis of the plausibility of online distribution by investigating the lessons that could be learned from three dominant international film industries, namely Hollywood, Nollywood, and Bollywood. The research evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of South Africa’s telecommunications regulation and newly developed online distribution policies. The research considered the current dominant streaming services in South Africa such as Showmax and Netflix and compared this to the two main South African cinema chains – Ster-KInekor and Nu Metro. Finally, the Covid-19 pandemic and the closure of cinemas during the lockdown has also been considered in terms of their influence on South African online film distribution. The core finding of this dissertation is that online distribution is a feasible option for producers, even though access to telecommunication infrastructure and the high costs of data in South Africa are still obstacles. Lastly, the research highlighted that producers face challenges in terms of intellectual property and other regulations to distribute their films, as national film organisations like the FPB, ICASA, and the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies have still not aligned their policies.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE: MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION, Department of visual communication, Faculty of Arts and Design at the Tshwane University of Technology.
Date
2022-12-01
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
South African film distribution, VOD, Video on demand, Online distribution, Platform, Streaming service, Showmax
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CC0 1.0 Universal