Competition rises in PayTv market as operators’ crash access fee

• StarTimes begins daily subscription

The intense competition in Nigeria’s PayTv market is gradually forcing operators to review their strategies, especially as it relates to subscription fees, content and services deliveries, among others.

Both new and existing operators, including Multichoice Nigeria (DStv), StarTimes, Consat and MyTV Telecom Satellite TV (TSTV) and Kwese TV are slugging it out competitively in the Nigerian market.

As at last month, the total number of pay-TV subscribers in Africa has reached approximately 23.7 million. This is according to a report by market analyst firm Dataxis, which noted this, represented quarter-on-quarter growth of two per cent, and year-on-year growth of 18 per cent, compared to the second quarter of 2016.

Though, it is still struggling to gain balance in the market after its October launch, TSTV operates the pay-as-you-watch model with daily subscription at N200, N500 for three days subscription, N750 for weekly subscription, N1, 000 for 10 days, N1, 500   for two weeks   and N3, 000 for monthly subscription.

Latest entrant into the market, Kwese TV, also introduced the N990 for three days subscription, N1, 850 for one week subscription and N6, 275 for monthly subscribers.

General Manager, Kwese TV, Elizabeth Amkpa said: “Our business is premised on the concept of TV anywhere and everywhere. This means we have made our premium content easily accessible across a number of platforms. Kwese is at the forefront of pioneering ground-breaking payment options that offer flexibility and convenience in the industry.

The hit of the moment has also fall on Startimes, the Chinese PayTv operator. It yesterday, has announced its new daily subscription payment tagged pay-per-day. This, the company said is in line with the desire to give every Nigerian the opportunity of unbeatable digital television experience.

The new subscription plan scheduled took effect from November 1, and will cut across all its bouquets nationwide.

According to the company, “Subscribers can now watch as much as 30 channels with N60 per day and over 40 TV channels with just N300 a week on Nova bouquet. Basic bouquet subscribers will also enjoy subscription rate as low as N90 per day and N450 per week while classic bouquet subscribers will pay N180 per day, N900 per week and Unique bouquet N240 per day and N1800 per week on DTT Platform.

On the other hand, subscribers on the DTH Nova bouquet is N60 per day, N300 per week and 900 per month; N120, N600 and N1, 900 for the subscribers on Smart bouquet.  However, the Super Bouquet subscribers will enjoy low rate of N240, N1, 200 and N3, 800 respectively.

Announcing the launch of the pay-per-day subscription package, Chief Executive Officer, StarTimes Nigeria, Justin Zhang said this option will boost viewing pleasure and offer credible, quality and enriching entertainment experience at a very low price.”

“As the fastest-growing digital TV operator in Africa and due to necessities of strategic development as well as meeting demands of African markets, StarTimes is focusing on its new pay-per-day subscription package to give subscribers affordable  and convenient digital Television experience” he added.

Also speaking on the plan, Brands and Marketing Director, StarTimes, Qasim Elegbede said Nigerians can now enjoy unlimited access to quality entertainment on StarTimes with pay-per-day.

He noted that the company’s focus is to provide services that will reach subscribers at an affordable cost. StarTimes aggregates various exciting and top-notch channels on its platform to offer millions of digital TV subscribers a rich blend of entertainment – be it movies, sports, news, drama, series and music.

Market Analysts have also predicted possible slash on DStv bouquets, going by the intense competition for market share.

The South African firm, which controls larger percentage of PayTv subscriptions in Africa with over 11 million subscribers, of which 40 per cent comes from Nigeria, has five major bouquets of Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus and Premium which are subscribed for at N1,900, N3,800, N6,300, N9,900 and N14,700 respectively.