Startimes
Onyebuchi Ezigbo
Startimes, a pay digital television provider and operator of a joint venture cable television network between the Nigerian Television Authority and the Chinese Television Network has said it has spent N15 billion ($100m) in rolling its services in the country.
The company said it is currently concluding negotiations to show the African Nations Cup live to Nigerians as part of its drive to bring best programmes and entertainment to the people.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of StarTimes, Mr. Joshua Wang expressed the hope that there will be a break- through in the negotiation to acquire the broadcast rights for the Nations Cup with the rights owners.
According to him, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku has intervened to help break the apparent deadlock in negotiations between the Nigerian Broadcasting Organisation and the owner of the Competition's broadcast right so as to ensure that Nigerian televisions aired the matches live to home viewers.
He said the management of the NTA-Startimes Network Is unveiling a new year package which includes a DVB- T 2 decoder and M50 mobile television phone.
He said the M-50 mobile phone is being packaged specially to encourage Nigerians to follow the Super Eagles all through their games at the African Cup of Nations in South African.
Explaining the unique features of the new device, Wang said Startimes M50 mobile television device has 3.2restive touch screens, high resolution quality that brings distinctive visual experience.
He also said the new DVB-T2 has the capacity for 25 channels and can be expanded further to receive over 70 channels.
Speaking on the achievements recorded so far by the organization, the Director of Operations, Mr. Maxwell Loko said the Startimes has reached a one million subscriber base with coverage areas stretching to 16 states of the federation.
He said the pay television outfit is presently operational in 15 cities in the country with project tin to cover the 36 state capitals by the end of 2013.
The group said it is introducing into the country the DVB-T2 television broadcasting technology. lso coming on the stable of STarTimes
Loko said the company won the Nigeria Broadcasting Organisation Merit Award for 2012.
He said Federal Government has approved that Startimes television to become the Public Signal Carrier that will drive the process leading to the digital change-over in the country's broadcast industry.