23rd November, 2010
In a move to enable more Nigerians have access to cable digital television experience, Startimes, the newest entrant into the pay television business, has slashed the price for its decoders by 20 per cent.
Startimes, a joint venture between Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Star Communication Network Company Limited, currently has a subscriber base of 160,000 after just four months of its entry into the Nigerian market.
Announcing the offer last week at the company’s head office at Afribank House, Fatai-Atere way, Mushin, the management of the company said that the price for its decoder has now been slashed from N9,000 to N7,000.
Since Startimes entered the Nigerian pay television market, other competitors have crashed the prices of their decoders in a scramble for customers.
Explaining the rational for the new price slash, the management of Startimes said: “The introduction of the current pocket-friendly offer is designed to remove the usual barrier which high cost constitutes and give opportunity to Nigerians to have access to digital television without draining their pocketsâ€
“We see no reason why Nigerians should pay through their nose just to be connected to pay television. In most parts of the world cable television has become a thing for everyone so why should some people keep the price high here and give us the impression that it is only for the rich. We are here to change that impression.â€
“We believe that access to information, education and entertainment should not in any way be restricted or made to elude Nigerians under whatever guise. This is because pay television is a vital instrument of self-development which has implications for the overall development in the society.â€
Aside the price reduction, Startimes management also announced the planned addition of more channels in their bouquet and establishment of 25 world class customer centres across Nigerian cities that have already been connected to their network.
It said that in the next few months, there will be over 50 channels on the platform while Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo contents will also be added.
According to the Management, the idea behind the establishment of the 25 customer care centres is to ensure that subscribers have easy access to products and services and to facilitate quick after sales response.
Hinting on its expansion efforts to cover other parts of the country, the company noted that services will be launched in Port-Harcourt and some parts of South East next month while all major cities in the country will be covered in 2011.
