Last month, Olivier Henrard, interim president of the influential French National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC), celebrated the success of France’s rigorous regulatory framework in securing substantial investments from streaming giants like Netflix. Henrard gave a press conference that generated debate over obligations of major streaming platforms to invest in local content and infrastructure, in this case across Europe.
This development inspired discussions between myself and a few colleagues in the African screen space about whether African countries could implement similar investment obligations on streaming platforms, akin to those imposed by France and other European nations under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD).
The short answer to the question is a resounding no!
At least, not in the foreseeable future. With one notable exception of course: take a guess.
Still, the debates I engaged in suggested a closer look would reveal some key facts, important realities, and nuances that may not be widely known, understood, or appreciated—but they are essential for anyone interested in the future of media in Africa.
Last month, Akoroko Premium subscribers received a deep dive that debates the practicality of applying European streaming investment regulations in Africa, considering the major challenges posed by differences in infrastructure, market maturity, and regulatory frameworks across the continent.
The piece exists as a living document—one that will be revisited and updated with new developments, providing an evolving resource for the top-down complexities of this segment of the African media environment.
To receive it and much more, subscribe via the link in the bio or copy/paste: https://akoroko.com/subscribe/
And this is one of the obstacles Africans have to overcome: trying to monetize knowledge. If you have a study/report that provides insight into a public good like the free and diverse flow of information to Africans across the continent, then let it fly!