Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub says that the group is in similar talks to the ones its parent company, Vodafone, is having with Netflix about streaming content.<\/p>\n
Following the announcement of the group’s full year financial results on Monday (19 May 2014), Joosub told BusinessTech: “We are in similar talks with various parties, some through Vodafone, some directly.”<\/p>\n
When asked for specific company names, including Netflix, Joosub said: “I don’t want to comment on any specific ones yet.”<\/p>\n
In April, Bloomberg reported that Vodafone Group is in talks with Netflix to offer subscribers access to streaming movies and television shows. It cited three people familiar with the discussions.<\/p>\n
A deal would give Vodafone customers free access to Netflix content for a period of time, Bloomberg said, adding that talks are at an early stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have all kinds of arrangements with all kinds of operators, and we have nothing to say until we announce them,\u201d Friedland told Bloomberg.<\/p>\n
At the time, BusinessTech questioned Vodacom on any similar plans it may have for its network.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking at content deals, but I can\u2019t comment on any specific company,\u201d Vodacom spokesman, Richard Boorman said.<\/p>\n
In April, Netflix, the US based provider of on-demand Internet streaming media, poured cold water over suggestions that it will enter the South African market any time soon.<\/p>\n