Thema taps Okast to power new My Bouquet Africain streamer

Canal+ International-owned content distribiutor Thema has tapped French streaming technology outfit Okast/M.E.I Group to provide the distribution platform for a new streaming African content offering, My Bouquet Africain.

My Bouquet Africain (mybouquetafricain.tv), named after the original Le Bouquet Africain that launched in France in 2008, is designed to cater to the French-speaking sub-Saharian African audience in Europe.

The offering currently includes 13 TV channels and a catalogue of more than a hundred films and series spanning Canal+ Original productions, to Nollywood and Senegalese drama.

Thema has chosen Okast to provide a multi-screen OTT platform, including its scalable streaming architecture, design and user experience, monetisation and activation paths, content and rights management, and web and mobile applications.

Thema said that the new launch is in line with its strategic orientation in digital and that it would pave the way for other new initiatives.

Timothée Vidal, SVP multicultural distribution and digital of Thema, said: “Thema is delighted of this collaboration with Okast, which has proven to be a reliable partner in providing the best quality of service to our customers. This new launch is fully in line with the strategic orientation undertaken by Thema in the digital field and will surely lead the way for new ones.”

Cédric Monnier, CEO of Okast, said: “We are delighted that Okast OTT has convinced such a prestigious player as Thema. It demonstrates that a modern cloud-based solution allows fast deployment of a state-of-the-art OTT solution with a proven economy of scale. We can’t wait to stream the best content from Africa to the widest audience.”