Startimes plans new channels to promote digital TV

AHEAD of the publicized date for viewers of television in Nigeria to migrate to digital television by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in June, Startimes has announced the launch of five new channels to further improve its content and stimulate digital television to enable viewers’ access and push boundaries to delight customers and entice more household.

Startimes, a multi-frequency and multi-channel digital wireless TV transmission platform adopted Digital TV technology to establish a powerful and secure signal. It combines satellite with terrestrial technology thereby facilitating the transmission of more than 100 local and international television channels covering news, sports, music, movies, TV series, religion, entertainment and documentaries all of which are available across its 13 African countries’ operations.

The new exciting, educative and entertaining digital television channels include, Iroko Play, Iroko Plus, AMC Series, Star Zone and Star Sport Focus. However, Star Sport Focus has been on and running since March 2015.

Speaking in Lagos, the Public Relations and Communication Manager Startimes Israel Bolaji said, the developments and direction are borne out of the company’s desire and commitment to offer value by enhancing access, improving content, further breaking barriers between the people and the platform deepening digital TV penetration in Nigeria.

“Our efforts are also geared towards closing the huge gap between the people and Digital TV switch campaign, by creating a robust and improved digital television experience that is constantly refreshed. Increasingly, more Nigerians can also gain access to an impactful and explosive digital television experience.

“Startimes is set to support Nigerians towards digital migration by offering them valuable family entertainment at an affordable rate that makes a convenient switch over from analogue to digital television and promote inspirational television experience that creates values with an array of interesting channels for sports, music, movies, news, kids and teens’ entertainment, documentary, religion and lots more, he said.

Explaining the channels, Bolaji said, Iroko TV channels are top-class online subscription-based entertainment platforms with lots of local movies for the youth and women. Iroko Play brings the best of Nollywood classic, mid recent movies and other entertaining Nigerian programmes to viewers while Iroko Plus shows block-buster Nollywood movies that are fresh and very recent.

“With Iroko TV’s launch on StarTimes, Iroko play and Iroko Plus will be accessible all over Africa exclusively for StarTimes viewers and in the first year alone, viewers will be treated to over 250 high quality titles and 250 episodes of magazine shows.”

AMC Series channel offers interesting local drama, particularly the best of African and international black dramas while Star Movies Zone thrills viewers with generic content for all, including Novela series, Hollywood series, Magazine shows and some children programmes. It features Hollywood action movies and acclaimed African films, popular Novella, series and comedies; variety and talk shows.

Star Sport Focus is an exclusive sports news bulletin channel. It can be viewed on both Startimes (channel 250) and on StarSat (channel 240). This new channel is available on all Startimes and StarSat bouquets. The channel offers subscribers a dynamic fast-paced overview of sports as a whole, and brings to viewers a 90-minutes sports news content block daily and content for magazine shows.

“Viewers can also watch the best action of top leagues in Africa, La Liga, Bundesliga and many more on Goalissimo. It promotes African Sports via Sports News Africa and shows exciting news and information on Wrestling and other favourite sports actions. Viewers can follow choice legendary sports stars from Africa and all over the world on the new channel, he said.

Meanwhile, Startimes reviewed it bouquet package and launched Nova bouquet with over 26 channels for N600 monthly which is more affordable than its initial lowest bouquet called Basic and with Nova, digital television is now more within reach for everyone.

“The increase in the number of relevant channels on our Bouquets was done in a bid to continue to satisfy Nigerians. We work smart to improve the quality and quantity of our services and also whet the appetites of Nigerians towards digital migration with our priceless bundle. We are determined to ensure no Nigerian home is left behind in the digital TV migration in June,” he said.

He noted that with all the offerings and value, the decoder is now available for N990 with N2400 minimum recharge of any choice bouquet for new customers while the new bouquet price is now Basic for N1,200, Classic for N2,400 and Unique for N3,600 monthly respectively effective from April 18.

“With its mechanised and improved billing system facility, customers can switch from the lower bouquet to any of the higher bouquet to watch a particular programme at a designated price per day altering the normal usage for each month”.

According to him, from May 1, customers across all bouquets will enjoy some fresh additions and improvements with the new and old channels. AMC movies and Wap TV formerly on a higher bouquet called Classic bouquet will now be available and enjoyed by customers on Basic bouquet; the Classic bouquet will now have the new Iroko Play and AMC series; Iroko Plus will also be introduced into Unique bouquet while Star Zone and Star Sport Focus will be available on all four bouquets.