IROKOtv, the African streaming platform, recently experienced website unavailability and the removal of its mobile app from the Apple and Android app stores, leading to speculation about a potential shutdown. The service’s lack of communication on social media further fueled concerns.

However, IROKOtv’s CEO, Jason Njoku, refuted shutdown claims and explained that the service’s offline status was due to an ongoing migration process. He stated, “We’ve been migrating platforms for the last few weeks, so the site has been in maintenance mode.”

After a decade of operation on a software stack designed for an African audience with specific broadband requirements, IROKOtv is changing its focus. Njoku revealed that they had to pivot away from Africa, making their existing product and platform obsolete. This transition, though challenging, was deemed necessary to make IROKOtv accessible on smart TVs, a rapidly growing segment in the streaming industry.

Njoku anticipates that the migration will be completed soon, with IROKOtv becoming available on smart TVs, including Roku, LG, and Samsung, by the end of the year. He emphasized the platform’s commitment to its new target market.

IROKOtv has been one of the pioneering African tech startups from the early 2010s, persevering in the competitive streaming industry, with support from investors like Tiger Global. While it has had to pivot from its African roots, the company’s strategic shift appears to be guided by its focus on serving the African diaspora, as evidenced by the majority of its revenues originating from outside Nigeria.

The company’s migration and dedication to its new target market reflect its evolving strategy to remain competitive in the streaming industry.