Nigerian Film Industry Embraces YouTube as Streaming Options Shrink

As global streamers like Netflix and Amazon scale back in Nigeria, Nollywood filmmakers are flocking to YouTube for creative freedom and direct audience access. Budget constraints and limited cinema infrastructure also make the platform appealing, especially for new talent frozen out by traditional players. The surprise success of Love in Every Word, which hit 5 million views in three days, shows YouTube’s potential and vindicates the strategy of bypassing traditional distribution channels. Directors now churn out movies nonstop, often filming in Airbnbs on shoestring budgets. Nevertheless, challenges like piracy and the threat of policy shifts continue to pose serious threats. As creators hustle and innovate, industry veterans argue that revitalizing public broadcasters like NTA could help solve Nollywood’s long-standing distribution crisis.

The Guardian