BY TheCable
StarTimes has described itself as the only Nigerian pay-TV company that offers a flexible subscription.
At a Webinar on Friday, Viki Liu, brand and marketing executive of the company, said StarTimes has been at the forefront of providing affordable quality entertainment for Nigerian families.
Liu said StarTimes pioneered digital-TV inclusion which was indeed, previously a luxury and the preserve of the rich, thereby bringing access to those that were excluded from enjoying the beauty of pay-TV.
“StarTimes championed and remains the only Nigerian pay-TV company that offers a flexible subscription method (day/week/month) to suit the needs of our subscribers. We have always aimed at affordable service that will enable our subscribers to enjoy digital life,” she said.
“The brand has invested billions of naira in providing thousands of direct jobs and opportunities to various partners (dealer network, local channels, production companies) in the country in less than 10 years. We bring value to everyone.
“Over the last couple of months, StarTimes has been adding new channels, great local and international channels for the viewing pleasure of our teeming subscribers without an additional charge. These channels, including other existing flagship channels and content, were acquired at a cost which StarTimes has continued to bear to cushion the economic pressure on subscribers.
“We have added the following channels to the StarTimes content offering: Toonami, Ceebies, ST School Junior, ST School Senior, Human Right, Dunamis, Love Nature, Smithsonian, Colors TV, Sky News, Tiwa n Tiwa, Filmbox and more. We also brought back FOX, FOX LIFE, NGC E, NGW E, ESPN, ESPN 2 and BABY TV. Shortly, DreamWorks Channel showing blockbuster movies will be introduced to the delight of our subscribers.
“For sports lovers, StarTimes offers a variety of international football tournaments for the entertainment of our teeming subscribers.”
She also announced that prices would be reviewed upward in light of the increased rate of value added tax (VAT).
“We are not known for incessant price increase. Rather, StarTimes’ subscription prices had on different occasions been reduced in order to make digital TV affordable for every Nigerian,” he said.
“For instance, in September 2017, we scrapped our Unique Bouquet (N3800) from our DTT subscription packages and crashed its major channels into Classic Bouquet whilst reducing Classic Bouquet price from 2600 to 2400. In 2018, Classic Bouquet was further reduced from N2400 to N1900.
“Earlier in the year (2020), the Federal Government increased the rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5% to 7.5%. This increase did have an effect on our cost but in consideration of our customers’ plight, we have continued to bear that extra cost.
“More recent is the impact of the foreign exchange rate; our business is not exempted from the effect of the naira depreciation affecting all businesses in the country. All of our foreign content is bought in dollars and to continually serve our subscribers the best content, the subscription price has to be reviewed upwards. Dollar was about N360 in 2017; today, it’s above N450 in the parallel market. Unfortunately, certain external factors are beyond our control; we are forced to adjust to realities before us.
“With effect from August 1, For DTT (antenna) users: Basic bouquet subscribers will now pay N1,700 as against N1300 monthly to enjoy close to 80 exciting channels; Classic Bouquet subscribers will pay N2,500 as against N1,900 monthly to keep enjoying close to 100 channels. While Nova bouquet remains unchanged at N900 with over 43 exciting channels.
“For DTH (Dish) users: Smart bouquet subscribers will pay N2,200 as against N1,900 monthly; Super Bouquet subscribers will pay N4,200 as against N3,800 monthly. While Nova bouquet remains unchanged at N900. DTH has close to 200 exciting channels.
“The price increase is not peculiar to the Nigerian market. The increase has been effected in a couple of other African countries since the first quarter of this year. The new pricing took effect in Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Guinea and Madagascar from March 1st, while It took effect in Rwanda and Zambia on June 1st 2020.”
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