Broadcasting
StarTimes Has Invested Over N20Bn in Nigeria – Bolaji
StarTimes NTA-Star TV Network Limited has avowed continued collaborations with the relevant government agencies for the Digital TV switchover In Nigeria, even as its investment in the country exceeds N20 billion.
Mr. Israel Bolaji, head, Public Relations and Communications of the Network in an extensive chat with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said that they are committed to a smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting while enabling Nigerians to overcome entry barriers through affordability as Startimes equally showcases its premium channel offering and customer centered after sales services that will swiftly manage any challenges faced by the customers.
He said that as a platform for digital migration, they are ever committed to supporting Nigerians actualize the 2015 deadline by ensuring that Nigerians get the best of digital television at an affordable price.
And are poised to aid Nigeria migrate successfully from analogue to digital television transmission and revolutionize the digital broadcasting industry by providing quality digital TV experience that is enjoyable and accessible Digital television, Bolaji explained, implies a situation where viewers cannot get channels and signal transmission through the analogue television any longer.
“You will need to get a decoder also called Set-top-box then connect it to your analogue television and recharge the decoder to get transmission and view channels or stations. While some people have done this, there are still many people who have not. This nationwide camapign is supporting these unconnected people to get connected.
“The idea is that there exists a global mandate for nations to broadcast TV signal by digital transmission only. In effect, the regulatory body locally here is expected to switch off analogue and switch on digital broadcasting only. This is expected to happen in 2015 in Nigeria and other African countries. Other nations around the world are also doing the same with their respective set target dates and time lines,” he said.
On digital Tv overview in Nigeria, Bolaji, who has been involved with PR and communications campaigns of several blue-chip clients like Apple, Emirates Airlines, Cotecna switzerland, GlaxoSmithKline, Nestle, Intel Corporation, Nokia, Chevron, Microsoft, Hong Kong Trade delegations, FedEx Redstar Express and other global brands in Africa, said, “Since StarTimes established our business imprint in the Nigerian pay TV space in 2010, our clear mandate has been to revolutionize the industry which was hitherto characterized by a situation in which only a few rich people could afford digital television, to a whole new level where everyone can now have access and enjoy quality fully digitalized television experience.
“From the days of massive dish to handy stylish plug and play decoders. After the entrance of StarTimes into Nigeria, household no longer have to pay through their noseto watch television. This is clearly in tandem with our mission to enable every African and by extension; Nigerian households have access to, watch and enjoy digital television. And in the last five years we have committed fully to delighting Nigerians with good picture quality, clear signals, and acquisition of exciting local and international channels for every category and class of people in the society from the kids to teenagers, youth, sports lovers, movie lovers, music, fashion and lifestyle. We currently offer over 80 channels cutting across all these categories.
“Currently, we have a situation where we still have both analogue and Digital TV running together but that will soon change in 2015. What will happen is Nigerians will only be able to watch their favourite programs with their regular television plus a decoder or get a TV with integrated or inbuilt decoder.
“So, it is for the many who currently don’t own a decoder or a TV with integrated decoder to get it and for everyone to enjoy the full benefits of digital TV. The digital switch is a global mandate and not just a Nigerian issue and what is good for the whole world is good for us too in Nigeria but it involves huge resources for capacity building, infrastructure development, up to date equipment for digital broadcasting and signal transmission, acquiring decoders, educating the Nigerian public on the comparative advantages of digital over analogue.
“The Digital television migration is a Nigerian Government initiative resulting from the decision of the Regional Radio Conference of 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland (RRC-06) under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Nigeria, as a member of the ITU, is required to implement the resolution reached at the RRC-06 to migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial TV broadcasting by 2015.
“The rest of the world is migrating to digital broadcasting and analogue broadcasting will not be protected from interference after 2015. The primary difference, and advantage, of digital broadcasting is the use of multiplex transmitters to allow reception of multiple channels on a single frequency range known as sub-channels. While analogue television requires a large amount of bandwidth to transmit sound and picture, digital signals require much less bandwidth and can therefore carry more content and provide better quality pictures and sound”.
Nigeria kicked off the transition from analogue to Digital Broadcasting with StarTimes flagging off and switching on digital transmission in June 2014 in Jos, Plateau State as a pilot phase but plans to switch off analogue and switch on digital transmission nationwide in 2015.
The process is driven by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) with other service providers and stakeholders and StarTimes is collaborating with government to make it a reality in Nigeria.
Over time, Bolaji said, StarTimes has invested heavily in Nigeria. According to Bolaji, holder of Masters degreein English from the University of Lagos and a Professional Diploma in Public Relations and Management, “StarTimes is poised through innovative marketing strategies to increase its market share and footprint in the Nigerian and African DTV market. Already, we are strong in 13 African countries and with plans to expand even more.
As part of the expansion drive, StarTimes has invested over NGN5 billion (US$31 million) in its operations in Nigeria with over 2 million subscribers. The value of our investment in Nigeria now stands at over NGN20 billion (US$124.2 million)”.
Recently, the Station unveiled ‘Nova’ bouquet, aimed at putting smile on everyone’s face.
On this, he said, “It is about happiness for all through refreshing entertainment. Our strategy for digital migration is continuous collaboration with government and others partners as well as unlocking opportunities through affordable pricing. As at date, Nova is the most affordable bouquet ever introduced in Nigeria and the best offer so far to truly make the digital television accessible to many.
“We are talking about paying only about N17 to watch over 15 exciting local and international channels… On plans for more channels he said, “Yes, we are planning to add more channels. It has never been this good and easy.
Nova is the latest bold move by StarTimes to enable more Nigerians conveniently switch over to and enjoy full digital television experience, and was launched recently ahead of the digital switch over deadline.
“Interestingly, d Nova is also coming at a time when StarTimes is also still giving out decoders for free upon subscription recharge.
The NOVA Bouquet Set was motivated by StarTimes observation that the cost of acquiring the decoders is a major factor to growing access; “we have therefore considered making it very affordable for them to acquire and access our digital television service. We have also strengthened our customer feedback and interactive points like the call centre and after sales support services to further bolster our offering”.
StarTimes was founded in 1988 with her headquarter in Beijing, and it is a Digital Television service provider that currently operates in 13 African countries where the company has adopted Digital TV technology establishing a powerful and secure multi-frequency and multi-channel digital wireless TV transmission platform.
StarTimes has combined 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 the African operations.
Video entertainment company MultiChoice’s woes are persisting with the company continuing to suffer massive losses in revenue and subscribers.
This emerged today when the DStv parent company announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March (FY25).
In a statement to shareholders on the Stock Exchange News Service, the JSE-listed firm says the past two financial years have been a period of significant financial disruption for economies, corporates and consumers across sub-Saharan Africa due to challenging macro-economic factors.
Combined with the impact of structural industry changes in video entertainment such as the rise of piracy, streaming services and social media, this has materially affected the overall performance of the MultiChoice Group, it notes.
Over this period, MultiChoice says the group lost 2.8 million active linear subscribers and had to absorb a R10.2 billion negative impact on its topline due to local currency depreciation against the US dollar.
For the year ended 31 March, the company reveals that linear subscribers were down 1.2 million or 8% year-on-year (YoY) to 14.5 million active subscribers, with the loss evenly split between South African (600 000) and Rest of Africa (600 000).
Although reflecting an improvement on FY24 trends, MultiChoice says this indicates ongoing broad-based pressure across the group’s entire customer base.
Active paying Showmax subscribers were up 44% YoY, reflecting healthy growth and gaining regional market share, it adds.
Group revenue declined by R5.2 billion or 9% YoY to R50.8 billion, mainly due to an 11% decline in subscription revenues (-1% organic) caused by foreign currency and subscriber volume headwinds and the deconsolidation of the NMSIS insurance business from December 2024, it explains.
According to the firm, this was partially offset by inflationary pricing and new product growth (DStv Internet, DStv Stream and Extra Stream).
Trading profit, which declined by R3.8 billion or 49% YoY to R4 billion, was materially affected by the R2.3 billion organic increase in trading losses in Showmax and the R5.2 billion in foreign currency revenue losses, partially offset by a significant outperformance in delivering total cost savings of R3.7 billion.
Adjusted core headline earnings, the board’s revised measure of the underlying performance of the business, shifted to a loss of R800 million (FY24: earnings of R1.3 billion) due to lower trading profit and hedging losses in FY25 (compared to gains in FY24), partially offset by smaller losses on cash remittances from Nigeria.
The group incurred a free cash outflow of R500 million in FY25 (FY24: inflow of R600 million), impacted by lower profitability, higher lease repayments due to timing and partially offset by improved working capital management as well as a 29% YoY decline in capex.
At year-end, the group held R5.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents and retains access to R3 billion in undrawn general borrowing facilities.
A part of the R12 billion term loan was repaid early by using the R900 million upfront proceeds from the NMSIS transaction (ie R1.2 billion, net of tax), says the company.
The group operates in numerous markets across Africa and internationally, resulting in significant exposure to foreign exchange volatility.
Amid the challenges, MultiChoice states that management acted decisively to ensure that the group could withstand these headwinds, focusing on key areas within its control.
It notes that this has meant maintaining a discipline of inflationary pricing, with price increases of 5.7% in South Africa in FY25 (FY24: 5.6%) and an average of 31% in local currency in Rest of Africa (FY24: 27%), which enabled the group to offset subscriber volume pressures and deliver 1% YoY organic revenue growth in the current financial year.
In addition, further efficiencies were implemented to manage costs and cash flows without unduly sacrificing the group’s customer value proposition, it adds.
In this regard, the group delivered R3.7 billion in cost savings, well ahead of management’s initial R2 billion target (and the revised R2.5 billion target set at interims) and almost double the R1.9 billion saved in FY24, the company says.
Afia TV & Radio has announced its official entry into the Lagos media market, in its commitment to expanding the broadcaster’s footprint, connecting businesses to audiences across Nigeria, and redefining regional media excellence.
Chief Emeka Mba,
Nnamdi Obanya, general manager of Afia TV & Radio, said there is only one digital satellite and one digital station in the southeastern region of Nigeria, which is Afia.
Obanya, stated that: “We are specialists in developing products. A programme on our channel, ‘How Market’, is where we talk to the people in the market to tell their stories and advertise their products on AFIA.”
According to him, “the market world has changed a lot, as the physical market has become a ware house while people are buying digitally.”
Chief Emeka Mba, founder and CEO, stated: “The parley brought together top media buyers, advertising agencies, and communication professionals for engaging conversations around emerging trends, innovation, and future-forward strategies in media planning and buying. The event also served as a platform for Afia TV and radio to unveil its offerings, platforms, and unique value proposition to Lagos-based stakeholders.”
While noting that they are thrilled to bring Afia’s fresh, original, and regional perspective to Lagos, Mba said, “this parley signals our readiness to collaborate, innovate, and deliver impactful results for our partners through data-driven content and targeted reach especially for brands looking to penetrate the southern Nigerian market.”
Equipped with modern broadcast studios, digital-first production capabilities, and a highly experienced team, Afia TV & Radio is poised to make a bold impression on the Lagos media landscape.
The media brand delivers high-quality programming ranging from news and documentaries to lifestyle, business, culture, and entertainment only in south-east but in Lagos, African and beyond, we want to be chief marketing platform of the eastern region, we are the only 24/7 radio station now in Enugu.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has warned disc jockeys (DJs) against publicly playing music without proper authorization or a valid license.
NAN reports that John Asein, NCC director-general, gave the warning in an advisory issued in Abuja.
He said the commission’s attention had been drawn to the growing practice of DJs playing music in public spaces without obtaining copyright licences from their approved collective management organisations (CMOs).
Asein said under sections 9 and 12 of the Copyright Act, 2022, only the owner of copyright in a musical work or sound recording has the exclusive right to reproduce, perform, or communicate it to the public.
The NCC threatened to prosecute defaulters in a case that could lead to a N1 million fine or a 5-year jail term upon conviction.
“Engaging in any of these acts without the owner’s authorisation constitutes an infringement under the Act,” he said.
“Such infringement may constitute a civil wrong or a criminal offence under section 44 (7), punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than N1 million or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both.”
Asein advised DJs to obtain the necessary licences and pay royalties to the approved CMO before performing music publicly.
The NCC director-general added that the commission will arrest and prosecute anyone found violating the law.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the approved CMO for musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria is the Musical Copyright Society, Nigeria (MCSN),” he said.
“The Commission is aware that the Disc Jockey’s Association of Nigeria (DJAN), as the umbrella body representing DJs in Nigeria, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MCSN.
“Under the arrangement, DJAN is authorised to work with MCSN to facilitate the payment of royalties by DJs nationwide, based on the tariff that DJAN had negotiated with MCSN.”
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