Charles Maleshila is one of the figures shaping the streaming industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Maleshila is the founder of Plustube, a 100% Congolese streaming platform. His vision is to revolutionize how Congolese people access local films, series, and cultural content.

Maleshila, an IT graduate from Stratford University in India, returned home in 2015. The same year, he began conceptualizing Plustube, inspired by successful Indian streaming platforms. 

"I observed how Indians consumed their films and series via local platforms. These platforms made Indian actors superstars and very rich, thanks to subscriptions and online consumption. I saw this as a real opportunity for Congolese cinema," explains Maleshila.

Launched in 2024, Plustube is positioned as a local alternative to international platforms like Canal+, the French platform. According to its founder, the Congolese platform “aims to become a full online TV channel”, offering Congolese and international content first to homes in the DRC, then outside the country.

Plustube features six thematic channels: Plustube Cinema for films and series, Plustube Education for online courses, Plustube Business for entrepreneurial content, Plustube News, and Plustube Music. The platform operates on a subscription model with monthly ($3) and annual ($33) packages, facilitating payments through Mpesa, a widely used mobile payment system in Africa.

Plustube is accessible via mobile, computers, and smart TVs. Innovatively, Plustube rewards users for their engagement, offering points for every minute spent on the platform. These points can be converted into real money or used within the platform, fostering an interactive and rewarding experience.

"We wanted to create an ecosystem where users are rewarded for the time spent on the platform. This builds a real relationship of trust and engagement," explained Charles Maleshila.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho