Amazon Records Subscription Surge for Prime Video in Nigeria

Amazon is recording a subscription surge with thousands of new subscribers few weeks after it launched its global streaming service Prime Video in Nigeria.

Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt feature as major subscription points as the streaming giant hots up against existing competition that includes Netflix and ShowMax.

The company in early August said Nigerians, for the first time, will be able to subscribe to Prime Video using naira, the local currency and tweeted in its official account, Prime Video Naija, that customers in Nigeria can stream more than 20,000 original TV shows and movies within its ecosystem, such as “The Boys,” “All or Nothing,” “Reacher,” “All the Old Knives,” “The Terminal List,” and the upcoming, highly anticipated “The Lord of the Rings.”

Prime Video membership attracts ₦2,300 per month, far lower than Netflix premium at ₦4,400 per month. With the lower price carrot from Prime Video Nigeria, subscribers are getting to enjoy a vast selection of entertainment that includes global Amazon TV series, Hollywood titles, exclusive Nollywood movies, and Local Nigerian Originals:

Ayanna Lonian (Director of Content Acquisition & Head of WW Major Studio Licensing Strategy at Prime Video), Ned Mitchell (Head of Originals for Africa & Middle East)                                                              and Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu (Head of Nigerian Originals)

Prime Video is bolstering its local presence with two Local Amazon Originals for Nigerian customers, Gangs of Lagos and LOL: Last One Laughing Naija.

“We’re delighted to be increasing our investment in Prime Video for customers in Nigeria, making it a truly localised experience. From local payment and a full-scale local marketing campaign, to more local content specifically for Nigerian customers, our investment in Nigeria is a significant step towards our broader expansion plans in Africa and our ambition to be the most local of global streaming services,” said Director of International Expansion, Prime Video, Josh McIvor, at the formal entry of the company into Nigeria earlier this month.

“We know our customers want to see locally relevant faces, places, and stories alongside our global content on Prime Video, so we’re excited to be bringing Nigerian customers these brand-new Local Amazon Originals, Gangs of Lagos and LOL: Last One Laughing Naija, which will complement our growing selection of Nollywood and African series and movies,” said Head of Nigerian Originals, Prime Video, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu.