MTN returns to streaming with One TV, targets Netflix with flexible payments

MTN has launched MTN One TV, a new streaming platform designed to compete with Netflix across Africa. The launch comes nine years after MTN shut down its earlier VU streaming service, and the company says it is returning with a more flexible, payment-friendly product for a changed market.

MTN Group announced the platform in June as part of its strategy to expand digital entertainment access across the continent. The rollout begins as Africa’s pay-TV market faces major shifts, with MultiChoice removing seven channels from its premium DStv package.

What MTN One TV offers

Unlike traditional subscription-only services, MTN One TV is built around several viewing and payment models. Depending on the market, customers can access free-to-view content, advertising-supported streaming, pay-as-you-watch options, and subscription packages, according to a report by MyBroadband.

The platform will feature local African storytelling, live television channels, international programming, and on-demand content. MTN says it has designed the service to give customers more choice in how they watch and pay.

Payments are a key focus. MTN says customers may be able to pay for One TV using airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, reducing barriers that have kept many African consumers away from paid streaming.

Learning from the past

MTN’s earlier streaming attempts struggled. FrontRow launched in 2014 and was rebranded as MTN VU in 2015. That platform offered Netflix-style subscriptions alongside movie rentals, a model that confused customers who expected newly advertised films to be included in their subscriptions.

MTN now says One TV has been developed for a significantly different digital environment, shaped by higher smartphone adoption, improved mobile networks, and more established digital payment systems. The company says One TV will sit within its broader digital ecosystem, connecting content, connectivity, payments, and digital services, not just operate as another standalone streaming service.

“Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options,” the company said.

MTN said consumer behaviour has changed considerably since its previous service. More viewers now watch entertainment primarily through smartphones, and demand for both local and international programming continues to rise. The company said viewers increasingly want greater flexibility, convenience, and choice in how they discover, access, and pay for content.

Pressure on traditional pay-TV

MTN One TV launches at a significant moment for Africa’s entertainment industry. MultiChoice is also changing its DStv offering, removing seven channels from its premium package as it responds to shifting viewing habits and competition from streaming platforms.

Legit.ng previously reported that four other channels were pulled from DStv and GOtv on January 1, 2026, after Paramount Africa closed its operations. The affected channels are BET Africa, MTV Base, CBS Justice, and CBS Reality, leaving subscribers who relied on them for music, entertainment, reality television, and crime programming looking for alternatives.

For Nigerian consumers and businesses, MTN One TV adds another major player to an increasingly crowded streaming market. The platform’s flexible payment options could make streaming more accessible, while local content creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and digital partners get a new route to reach wider audiences and monetise their work.