Amazon Prime Video is making substantial budget cuts for African and Middle Eastern content, redirecting its international focus toward European originals. This restructuring has resulted in staff layoffs in Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region. While existing commitments for MENA region shows remain intact, new local productions in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa may face potential halts.
The reorganization involves dividing Europe into two clusters, prioritizing “emerging” territories, and reducing funding for African and MENA regions. Barry Furlong, Prime Video’s VP & GM for EMEA, outlined these changes in an internal memo, emphasizing a resource “rebalance” and establishing two European clusters.
Staff in Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA regions have been notified about potential role eliminations. Gideon Khobane, Director of Prime Video Africa, is reportedly among those affected. However, individuals like Ned Mitchell, Head of Originals for Africa and the Middle East, are believed to be unaffected.
This restructuring has led to uncertainties for production companies like Greoh Studios and Inkblot, which entered significant deals with Amazon Prime Video. Despite its initial efforts to fortify its presence in Africa, Amazon’s recent decisions signal a shift in priorities and potential setbacks for the African streaming landscape.
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