Nigeria’s film industry, Nollywood, is a global powerhouse in volume but faces daunting challenges in distribution.
With just about 103 functioning cinemas serving more than 200 million people, most Nigerians cannot easily access new films on the big screen.
The situation is worsened by high cinema ticket prices and rampant piracy.
Even online streaming, which promised a solution, is constrained by costly data, patchy internet infrastructure, low purchasing power, and region‑based restrictions that lock many viewers out.
In response, Nigerian film producers are turning to YouTube, transforming it into a vast digital warehouse for their intellectual and creative property.
The platform bypasses the barriers of geography and income, allowing films to reach both rural audiences at home and the Nigerian diaspora abroad. It also offers creators a measure of protection against piracy while generating revenue through ads and channel memberships.
This article spotlights some of the largest producer‑owned YouTube channels in Nigeria, examining their subscriber growth, longevity in the market, the volume of creative works they’ve released, and channel views.
- Subscriber no: 1.86 million
- Channel Views: 333 million
Maurice Sam TV is another YouTube channel that hosts a ton of Nollywood movies digitally. Behind the channel is Maurice Sam, a multifaceted Nigerian actor, DJ, model, and influencer who first captured nationwide attention in 2016 with his breakout role as Acid in the hit TV series Hustle.
He went on to feature in several acclaimed EbonyLife productions, including Netflix’s Blood Sisters (2022), before making the leap to executive producer of his own Nollywood films, many of which now premiere directly on his YouTube channel.
The channel was published on June 5, 2013, and now has 1.86 million subscribers, 96 videos, and over 333 million views.
A graduate of Mass Communication from Lagos State University, Maurice has cemented his reputation as Nollywood’s “lover boy” with standout performances in The Big Fat Lie (2019), Steal My Heart (2024), and Twice the Love (2024). Today, Maurice Sam TV serves as the primary outlet for his growing body of self‑produced work, making him not just a screen favorite but also a digital entrepreneur shaping Nollywood’s YouTube era.
Keep it up. I’m really enjoying your well informed platform.
dominated by females, laudable