GojoCinema is a website that offers online flat rate video streaming Services. Global and domestic media markets are currently suffering from lack of online access to Ethiopian films and music. Production companies and artists, as well as consumers, are missing out on the potential benefits of this opportunity.

Therefore, DireTube has once again decided to step into the market gap and create an online platform for Ethiopian film producers to showcase their work in the form of an online portal for viewers to see their films. The result is www.gojocinema.com, a new virtual movie rental site where visitors can stream films on-demand through the internet.

Let's talk to the founder Biniam Negessu, He is also the Founder of DireTube.com


Let us come to your new website Gojocinema.com. Tell me about it?

Biniam- The idea for an online movie rental system came form DireTube it self. People share movies on DireTube and it often has the highest hit. That means many people watch it free. This some times disappoints the producers and in some cases they tell us to take it down which we do. Therefore, we thought what if we create a system where people actually pay for the movies, they watch. That way both the producer, the cinema industry, Actors, the viewers and of course, we will benefit from it. Therefore, about a year and a half we started developing the idea.

How does it work?

It is very simple. Users will register online. They will get their own user name and password. Once they do that, the next step is to log on and choose the movie they are interested. After they decide, they will be requested to make payment. For 48 hours, the payment is 2 dollars.

How does the payment is effected?

The payment is affected by Paypal. The pay pal company, the minute the viewer effects payment, will inform the producer and us. We did that to make the system more transparent and to get the trust of the producers. There is an area exclusive to movie owners on the website. They will have a code and using that they can check who, on what time, for how long and from where used the service and watched their movie. At the same time, they will know how much money their movie is making online.

How does it ensure producers from online copyright infringements?

One of the main motives behind this website is to make sure movie producers get the benefit they deserve from their production. As I said before on Dire Tube people use to upload movies and it get a very high hit, which means so many people watch the movie free. If even half of the viewers are willing to pay for the movie, producers will get a huge amount of money. We have a system to make sure that it is not possible to download and share movies from Gojocinima.com. We cannot give 100% guarantee since there are hackers and the like whom we might have a difficulty to control. However, to a certain extent producers are protected from online copyright infringement.

Is it exclusively for the Diaspora?

Biniam - So far, that is the idea. The local audience can simply access the DVD and watch the movies. The Diaspora may not be in such position. The payment it self is based on credit card, which means only the Diaspora, has an access. However in the future we are planning to reach local audience based on membership. They can come to our office and pay for a movie they wish to see online and their account will be activated so that they can access it. We are in process of developing this idea.

Thank You

Biniam - Thank you for having me

Check out Gojocinema.com

Seble Contributed to this Article
Compiled by Suleyman Hassen