THE STREAMING REVOLUTION IN NOLLYWOOD: DEMOCRATIZATION, PROFESSIONALIZATION, AND INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION

The rise of streaming platforms has profoundly transformed the Nollywood industry, fostering greater democratization of content creation and elevating professional standards across production processes. This study critically examines the impact of digital streaming on Nigeria’s film industry, focusing on how it has expanded creative opportunities, enhanced technical competencies, reshaped marketing strategies, and redefined financing models. Employing a qualitative research design, the study integrates content analysis, expert interviews, and secondary data drawn from streaming platforms, industry reports, and scholarly literature. It further investigates the transformation of revenue structures and the proliferation of indigenous subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms, such as Iroko TV and Afrinolly, which have emerged as significant players alongside global giants. By exploring the convergence between Nollywood and the global streaming economy, this research presents evidence-based insights into the ongoing digital evolution of the Nigerian film sector and its broader implications for media production and distribution in Africa.