There is a battle going on in the satellite pay TV industry for the very soul of the subscriber and possibly over the future of the industry and excited subscribers are already feeling groovy, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
Major pay-TV platforms; DStv and HiTV have slashed subscription costs and introduced more affordable bouquets, all in bid to chalk up more subscribers.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that DStv operated by Multichoice Nigeria and HiTV, owned by Hi Media Limited have also introduced DStv Access and Correct Bouquet packages respectively in attempt to differentiate their products and offerings.
The operators did not stop there; they are nowlowering entry and subscription fees targeted at low-income earners who actually constitute a greater percentage of the country’s population.
DStv and HiTV satellite dishes have become common sight in city suburbs and rural areas.
Segun Fayose, Corporate Communications head at MultiChoice Nigeria, told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that “so far we have recorded an influx in the number of subscribers to the new DStv Access bouquet and I must say that we are impressed with the steady growth of the bouquet in just a few months of its introduction into the market.
“We introduced the DStv Access at a monthly subscription of just N1, 500, making it the most cost efficient and affordable bouquet in the country. With 27 high quality channels covering entertainment, news, sports, music, kiddies and movie channels, DStv Access is the number one choice for low-income earners who desire to enjoy quality pay television services in our country,” he added.
Justin Esade, spokesperson for Hi Media which recorded 250,000 subscribers recently and still counting, told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that Correct Bouquet was created for those who want to own pay TV but do not have the financial muscle.
“Our position has always been that pay TV should not be a luxury and that informed our decision to carve out the Correct Bouquet at N1, 900 monthly.” He added.
He further explained that the bouquet has 24 channels – 20 televisions and 4 radios – covering news, movies, music, lifestyle, kiddies, sports and religion.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that Daar Communications’ Daarsat is weighing the options of introducing a cheaper bouquet in order to attract more subscribers to its platform.