By As the deadline for the Digital Switch Over (DSO) draws near, there are indications that one technology driven brand that subscribers may just be so willing to embrace is the one offered by the several bouquets from the stable of StarTimes PayTv.
ICT-BizAfrica checks revealed that the StarTimes current decodes offer amazing viewing pleasures for the large numbers of its subscribers spread across Nigeria.
StarTimes Nigeria, is currently the toast of the PayTV market in the country being the first to introduce the integrated HD digital TV set which comes in three sizes and already available in the market designed with in-built decoders integrated with the television thereby saving users the stress of buying TV and decoder separately as well as clumsy wiring connections.
The smart product, which comes permanently with over 100 pay TV and free-to-air channels, will grant end users instant access to join the digital TV train as currently being promoted by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The new StarTimes integrated digital TV set comes with upgradeable operating system, full HD LED screen category, 2 HDMI ports, 5MM Bezel, 1920*1080 resolution, 8W*2 digital noise filter system, and 100-240V, 75W Voltage with 12 months’ warranty.
Besides, its LCD 26”, 32” and 42” TVs all come with inbuilt star TV decoders making it inventive as with one TV set you can watch many more channels while just paying a reasonably priced access fee. Also, its CRT 21” TV set comes with an inbuilt decoder giving its similar advantages as the LCDs.
Equally exciting is the fact that StarTimes has very affordable decoder that is weather friendly and movable as well as a plug and play device that offers dish/antenna option whereby signal quality is at its best.
He said, “StarTimes commits itself to providing customers with the most endurable Digital LED TVs and the most splendid viewing experience, integrated with the cutting-edge technologies and exquisite craftsmanship.”
The TV comes with 60 percent Lower Energy Consumption than CRT TV, designed for decorating a more fashionable space with its maximum thickness of 70mm and the minimum thickness of 13mm and Offer boundless viewing pleasure with 5mm ultra-slim bezel and silver skating blade stand which uplifts your viewing, he noted.
Head of Public Relations, Israel Bolaji said The StarTimes integrated DTV product comes inbuilt with the Combo Decoder which allows viewers to enjoy both digital terrestrial (DTT) and digital satellite (DTH) digital television on it.
He said that the company had forced down the price of PayTV to the convenient reach of the masses introducing for the first time in Nigeria the very mass market friendly DTT (Antenna) pay-TV model, explaining that the digital TV platform has played a significant role in boosting the industry and has set the pace in many areas, including affordable pricing, collaboration and innovation.
“Our deliberate collaboration with terrestrial analogue TV stations and the government through the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) was also instructive, as it marked the first and true beginning of strategic engagements involving public and private partnership towards actualization of digital TV switch over which is currently evolving. Today, everybody else is scrambling to partner same stations which were ignored for many years.
“We just don’t sell decoders, we provide all-round delightful digital television entertainment and experience for the household with over 100 channels that enrich viewers, including every member of the family. We further support subscribers with viewing convenience programs like door to door after sales services, 24-7 care phone lines, add-on channels and convenient payment models and online platforms.
Our add-on bouquets, for instance, enables subscribers on lower-cost bouquet access channels on higher bouquets without switching bouquets,” he added.
For lovers of India movies, StarTimes has made the experience more exciting with the introduction of sub-title option in other languages.
On StarTimes, Nigerians can enjoy fantastic channels like FOX, FOX sports, ST Sports premium, ST Sports World, irokoworld, irokoplay AMC Movies, ST Zone, Orisun, ST Yoruba; Bollywood channels like Star Plus and Zee Cinema. Music channels like ST Music, Nigezie and MTV Base; documentary channels like IDX, Nat Geo Gold and Discovery Science; news channels – Al Jazeera and Bloomberg; ST Novela, Wazobia, Jim Jam, Nickelodeon, Baby TV, Fine Living and many more.
Already, the Federal Government had successfully launched the pilot scheme of the DSO roll-out in Jos, Plateau State, from where government plans to roll-out in other cities in preparation for the migration from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting by June 2017.
The journey towards the digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting actually started in Nigeria, on June 17, 2006, after the country signed international and regional agreements to conclude digital migration by June 17, 2012.
In a bid to achieve the 2012 migration date, the Federal Government in 2007, approved the process of migration, and in 2008, it inaugurated a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Nigeria however, missed out on the June 17, 2012 initial migration date, due to lack of adequate preparation, and government was forced to shift migration date to June 17, 2015, but again could not achieve it for lack of funds.
