MTN One TV launched its first original series, 100 Ways to Stay Single in Lagos, at a special screening in Cape Town alongside MIP Africa 2026, marking an important milestone in its ambition to connect African stories with audiences across the continent.

Produced by Nigerian filmmaker Mimi Bartels and supported by MTN One TV – MTN’s mobile-first, multi-screen streaming platform – the drama series showcases a collaboration of talent from Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana. Following its launch, the series is now available to viewers in South Africa, Ghana and Zambia, with a broader rollout across other MTN markets to follow.

The premiere brought together filmmakers, cast members and industry stakeholders to celebrate the production and the opportunities for African storytelling through cross-border collaboration.

As part of its Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN is expanding its digital services business to respond to evolving customer needs and growing demand for digital entertainment. Through MTN One TV, the Group is working with the creative industry to connect audiences with relevant content while exploring new commercial opportunities for African producers and content businesses.

Burak Akinci, Chief Executive of MTN Digital Services, said the launch demonstrates the potential of combining Africa’s creative talent with digital platforms that can help stories reach wider audiences.

“Africa has extraordinary storytellers, talented creators and world-class content. We see an opportunity to work alongside the industry, bringing our digital capabilities, market presence and understanding of African audiences to help great stories travel further,” said Akinci. “Our ambition is to build an entertainment platform that creates value for viewers and meaningful commercial opportunities for the people and businesses behind the content.”

For Bartels, the production demonstrates what becomes possible when creative ambition is matched with the right partnerships.

“Every filmmaker understands how important it is to have partners who believe in your vision. I’m grateful to MTN One TV for supporting this production and helping us bring the story to life,” said Bartels. “Seeing something created in Nigeria reach audiences across different African markets is incredibly rewarding, and I hope it encourages more opportunities for African creators to share their stories.”

South African actor Bohang Moeko, who stars in the series, highlighted the value of working with talent from across the continent.

“Working alongside creatives from different African countries was one of the most rewarding parts of this experience. We each bring our own cultures, perspectives and experiences, but storytelling has a wonderful way of bringing us together,” said Moeko. “Collaborations like this allow us to learn from one another and create something that audiences across Africa can connect with.”

MTN One TV participated in MIP Africa 2026 as a Platinum Sponsor, using the industry gathering to engage producers, content creators and potential partners. Alongside the premiere, the platform hosted pitch sessions to discover new projects and explore opportunities for collaboration.

As MTN develops its entertainment offering, it will continue working across the creative ecosystem, combining industry expertise with its digital platforms and audience reach to help African content find new markets and build sustainable commercial opportunities.

Watch the trailer here