Vidi, the first subscription video on demand service to launch in South Africa, has quietly closed down.
Word of the closure comes after Tiso Blackstar announced in 2015 that it planned to exit from its investment in Vidi due to the service’s poor performance.
Times Media Group launched Vidi on 10 September 2014, offering both a Netflix-like subscription video streaming service as well as online movie rentals.
Initially the service cost R149 per month, but Vidi slashed its monthly subscription fee when ShowMax launched at R99 per month.
A notice on Vidi’s website states that the on-demand video service was not available after 26 January 2016, and that the website is transforming.
The website also announced the winner of Vidi’s Ferrari 458 competition as Loxolo Moyo.
Although Vidi’s streaming video service has ended, there is a new giveaway on the site for an Audi RS3.
A look at the website’s Whois information reveals that Vidi.co.za is no longer registered to Times Media Group, but to STS (Pty.) Ltd. – a wireless application service provider (WASP).
STS offers services such as premium SMS and premium USSD, with its Audio RS3 giveaway requiring that you dial a premium USSD code to enter.
The WASP was contacted for comment regarding Vidi, but did not respond by the time of publication.
