“In 2026, value capture in Africa’s digital media ecosystem will continue to shift toward creator-led, direct-to-fan and ad-supported platforms” – Chimgozirim Nwokoma

Prediction

In 2026, value capture in Africa’s digital media ecosystem will continue to shift toward creator-led, direct-to-fan and ad-supported platforms, as even professional creators such as Nollywood filmmakers increasingly prioritise YouTube over streaming platforms, while capital-intensive SVOD players struggle to convert audience scale into sustained profitability. 

Supporting Evidence

Over the past year, African creator monetisation platforms have paid out over ₦15 billion to creators across digital products, education, and entertainment, signalling strong demand for direct-to-fan income models. At the same time, Netflix and Amazon Prime have reduced African content spend, while an increasing number of Nollywood filmmakers are prioritising YouTube releases, where ad revenue, brand deals, and faster payback offer clearer and more predictable monetisation than SVOD platforms.

Risk Factors

This shift could be disrupted if a local or regional streaming platform secures sustained, long-term capital and pairs it with materially different distribution economics.

Who is Chimgozirim Nwokoma?

Chimgozirim Nwokoma is a Senior Reporter at Techpoint Africa, where he covers African startups, fintech, and venture capital. He is the writer of Equity Merchants, Techpoint Africa’s weekly advice column for early- to mid-stage founders, drawing practical lessons from conversations with entrepreneurs and investors across the continent.

He has moderated leading industry events, including The Fintech Summit and the Modern Workplace Africa Conference, and regularly leads conversations with founders, operators, and investors on the ideas, strategies, and capital shaping Africa’s technology ecosystem.