Citizen journalism in South Africa has really made a huge leap from where it started form; this is according to Project Isizwe, a non-profit organization that aims to bring the internet to people across South Africa.
It is provided through WiFi TV, a video-on-demand service of relevant and engaging video content distributed over the Tshwane Free WiFi network that the City of Tshwane has provided for its citizens.
The WiFi TV service offers 5 channels and hosts content created by young film makers living in the various areas of the City of Tshwane providing the local communities with a voice and informing them about what is happening within their communities.
The service has reached a record-setting of 306000 unique views in January 2015, pushing total views to a whopping 640 000 since the service was launched on the 3rd of November 2014. On the “My City” channel alone, 320 000 views have been logged so far.
“It seems hard to believe that not too long ago, the general public in the City of Tshwane had no real access to free WiFi. Today they are setting records with high-quality videos that are streamed via WiFi TV to be viewed by everyone,” said Alan Knott-Craig Jr, Founder and CEO of Project Isizwe.
WiFi TV is a hyper localized video-on-demand solution enabled for unlimited access to users of the Tshwane Free WiFi service.
WiFi TV enables the City of Tshwane to get further insight into the lives of its citizens and communicate directly with them via video without being restricted by the data costs traditionally involved in video delivery.
Access to the bouquet is zero-rated on the free WiFi network developed by Project Isizwe and via the initiative’s Tobetsa online portal.
The WiFi TV service was initially launched with 4 channels: Att’ville, CBD, Mams and Sosh. Later, a 5th channel, “My City” was included featuring news and information from the City. In the future, additional channels will be added to WiFi TV offering additional relevant content to people.
