Netflix Frees Up Shows In This Country To Attract New Viewers

YOGYAKARTA - The video streaming platform from the United States, Netflix, is free of subscription fees in Kenya, starting Monday (20/9/2021). This was done as a strategy to attract new audiences in the African region.

Quoted from Antara, which launched Reuters, the free Netflix package in Kenya is available for Android phone users. Meanwhile, to access streaming video using a PC/Desktop, a normal subscription fee is still charged.

Even though it's free, viewers can still enjoy streaming video on Netflix ad-free. They can also enjoy popular series such as "Money Heist" or "La Casa de Papel", to the African series "Blood & Water.

However, because it can be accessed for free and without ads, Netflix limits users to only being able to access a quarter of the content on Netflix. This is a strategy used to get viewers in Kenya to like the shows on offer and choose to subscribe.

Cathy Conk, Netflix's director of product innovation, said many people in Kenya haven't watched Netflix. Therefore, he hopes that by eliminating subscription fees from mid-September 2021, Kenyans will be happy and subscribe to Netflix.

"A lot of people in Kenya haven't watched Netflix before. It's a great way to enjoy our service," Cathy Conk told Reuters.

"If you like what you're watching, you can upgrade to one of our paid plans," he added.

The Netflix streaming video service has also started making its broadcasts free in Kenya starting Monday (20/9/2021), local time. Users in Kenya can also enjoy movies or series available through their respective Androids.

Meanwhile, it is not known how long the promo will last. However, if you look at the efforts made by the video streaming platform from the United States, to attract new subscribers in the African region, it is estimated that this will take a long time.

The reason is that the video streaming service from the United States is looking for new customers abroad, after their domestic audience begins to decrease. One of the targeted markets is countries on the African continent.

To make this endeavor a success, Netflix has even invested in film production in Africa. They are currently involved in the local Nigerian productions of "Queen Sono", and "Jiva", and partnered with one of the country's production studios.

Similar campaigns are also expected to continue in other African countries. Apart from Kenya, Netflix is currently exploring other countries to do free promotions to increase the number of subscribers.