Broadcasting

StarTimes Begins Free Decoder Give-Away Promo

Published

11 years ago

November 27, 2014

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As part of its commitment to commemorate the festive season and ensure every Nigerian enjoys digital TV experience, foremost Pay-TV provider, NTA-Star Network StarTimes, has commenced a massive free decoder give-away promos for everyone during the yuletide season.

The exciting offer is coming ahead of the 2015 digital switch over and is aimed at offering every Nigerian an opportunity to own set-boxes required for quality digital TV experience.

From November 18, 2014 to January 31, 2015, StarTimes said it will be giving away one free StarTimes decoder to everyone who subscribes for 1 month unique bouquet or for 2 months classic subscription.

Also, a free StarSat HD satellite decoder plus dish will be given out to anyone who subscribes for 3 months Smart bouquet on StarSat.

In addition, customers will be smiling home during this festive season with exciting gift items in the on-going ‘StarTimes Season Jolly’ and ‘StarSat Family Fiesta’ promos.

Commenting on the offer, Israel Bolaji, StarTime public relations manager, said, StarTimes has introduced this offer as part of its resolve to offer as many Nigerians as possible the opportunity to own decoders for free and enjoy the festive season with family and friends in high spirit.

Bolaji said “While the ‘Season Jolly’ promo is designed to excite StarTimes users, the ‘Family Fiesta’ promo is targeted at rewarding prospective and existing subscribers of StarSatHD satellite decoder.

He said that StarTimes’ existing subscribers would automatically be entered into a raffle draw upon the renewal of their subscription for 2 months through any of these methods: promo cards, online recharge and non-promo cards.

New customers would also automatically qualify for the draws upon the payment for any of the classic, unique or the StarSat smart bouquet which comes with a free decoder.

He said “During the promo period, there would be a 50 percent discount in the second month of subscription every time our subscribers recharge their decoder for the ‘Season’s Jolly Promo.’

Bolaji reiterated that, “the star prize for the promos is six sets of luxury sofas and there are also consolatory items like lamps, StarTimes P40 Phone, television sets and other give-away prizes for subscribers.

He hinted that grand draws for the promos would hold on December 15, and January 30.

Winners can retrieve consolatory and give-away prizes from all StarTimes business halls while the star prize is to be retrieved from the StarTimes head office in Lagos.

Meanwhile, StarTimes recently introduced nine new channels on its platform to boost its subscriber’s experience.

According to Bolaji, “The nine new channels which have been carefully selected to enhance digital television experience for customers included the brand new Wazobia TV and Cool TV, Da Vinci Learning, PoP TV, Trace Sport Stars, StarTimes Sport 2, StarTimes Dadin Kowa, Tiwa N Tiwa and QYOU. These stations were also opened for free for 7 days to our teeming viewers to watch and enjoy.”

He enthused that the Pay TV provider is committed to supporting local content to ensure interesting digital television experience for Nigerians.

“Progressively, from 45 channels in 2010, StarTimes now offers its subscribers more than 80 channels of news, music, sports, cartoon, documentary, Nollywood, Hollywood and Bollywood movies and much more. Interestingly, the content of StarTimes makes provisions for rich local content in accordance to the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation’s (NBC) regulations and our numerous life-enriching initiatives are indications that StarTimes is committed to adhering to this regulation.”

StarTimes has a mission of ensuring that every home in Nigeria enjoys quality and affordable digital Pay-TV with the latest technology in operation and rich content.

The mission is backed with its joint venture collaboration with the NTA to help Nigerians actualize its 2015 digital transition deadline.

StarTimes is currently in over 32 Nigerian states and plans to cover all 36 states by end of 2014.

StarTimes covers Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Ibadan and Port-Harcourt, Aba, Benin, Enugu, Ilorin, Jos, Kaduna, Makurdi, Onitsha, Sokoto, Uyo and Yola, Abeokuta, Akure, Oshogbo, Lokoja, Zaria, Kastina, Gusau, Minna, Lafia, Owerri, Awka, Warri, Calabar, Suleja, Binin-Kebbi and Ado EKiti.

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Broadcasting

EFCC Arik Case: Witness Testifies on Receiver Manager Nominee’s Role in NG Eagle Shareholding

Published

16 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Ugo Onwuaso

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The 4th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former AMCON Managing Director, Ahmed Kuru, on Monday continued to give the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, ‘fresh insight’ into how the structure and equity of NG Eagle Airlines was set up.

EFCC Arik

In his testimony, Kaltungo testified that this arrangement entails the Receiver Manager’s nominee having a shareholding arrangement of NG Eagle of “one unit within a billion-share structure,” as part of the findings that emerged during the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s investigation.

The development surfaced as EFCC Investigative Officer, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, continued his examination-in-chief led by prosecution counsel, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN. Kaltungo told the court that the financial trail uncovered by investigators showed how funds allegedly belonging to Arik Air Limited were unaccounted for while NG Eagle was being established.

Kaltungo also, in the course of his testimony, sought to mislead the Court to believe that the 1st Defendant sold NG Eagle shares solely and unilaterally as a Receiver holding majority shares in NG Eagle, when in fact he is just a nominee with a single unit of share, as AMCON, the corporation that appointed him, holds majority shares in NG Eagle.

Even though his testimonies were made with the support of a few documents admitted in evidence, Kaltungo still was not able to establish a nexus of any act of omission on the part of the accused persons to establish fraud or crime in the management of Arik’s loan.

Kuru is standing trial alongside Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank Plc, and Super Bravo Limited before Justice Mojisola Dada. According to the witness, the statement of Arik’s former Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Jonathan Sani, detailed how the defendants allegedly moved N4.5 billion from Arik to fund NG Eagle, an airline he said was controlled by the defendants. He further testified that Omokide and Ilegbodu allegedly worked with Kuru to funnel a total of N4.9 billion from Arik’s coffers to manage and fund operations of the new airline.

Kaltungo added that beyond the cash transfers, Arik staff were also moved to NG Eagle even though the new airline was set up while Kuru was still AMCON MD, and Omokide served as AMCON’s Receiver Manager. He said salary payments and operational expenses for the newly formed NG Eagle were borne by Arik Air Limited.

During proceedings, the court admitted a CTC of an ex parte order, which the prosecution termed as the only document authorizing the appointment of the RM over Arik and marked the same as P17, along with other exhibits—P18, P25, P26, P44, and P45—including. photographs and videos in a flash drive containing footage of alleged vandalised aircraft were played in court, but the Prosecution again failed to establish a nexus as to whether those aircraft indeed belonged to Arik.

Meanwhile, counsel for the second and third defendants applied for the release of their clients’ passports for renewal and medical purposes. Justice Dada granted the requests on the condition that the documents be returned to the court registry no later than January 2, 2026.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to February 25 and 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial and Examination-in-Chief of PW4

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Broadcasting

NIPR Postpones Maiden PRICE Awards to January 25, 2026

Published

4 days ago

December 6, 2025

Ugo Onwuaso

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Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the postponement of its maiden annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes to January 25, 2026.

NIPR

The event, earlier scheduled for December 7, 2025, was deferred to accommodate stakeholders whose observance of Christmas festivities had commenced earlier than expected.

Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Israel Opayemi, urged stakeholders to note the new date and prepare to participate in the ceremony.

He said the awards would motivate professionals, practitioners and scholars, while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem and strengthening brand equity for all stakeholders.

Opayemi reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class award administration and ceremony, describing the PRICE Awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate and elevate outstanding individuals, campaigns and organisations shaping the public relations landscape across sectors.

The development of the PRICE Awards peaked in September 2025 when the NIPR President and Chairman, Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, inaugurated a 12-man committee to organise the maiden edition. The inauguration followed the Council’s adoption of the report of a technical team tasked with establishing the awards.

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Broadcasting

Netflix Seals $82.7bn Deal to Acquire Warner Bros., HBO Max

Published

4 days ago

December 6, 2025

Ugo Onwuaso

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Netflix has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max in a transaction valued at $82.7 billion, a move analysts say will reshape the global entertainment industry.

Netflix

The deal, which includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Games, was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. Under the terms, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for each WBD share.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the acquisition as “a defining moment” for the streaming giant, noting that the company intends to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations while expanding its production capacity.

“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies with Netflix’s culture-defining titles, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said.

The transaction is expected to close within 12 to 18 months, following the planned spin-off of WBD’s TV networks division, Discovery Global, in 2026. Netflix projects annual cost savings of $2–3 billion by the third year after completion and expects the deal to be accretive to earnings per share by year two.

Industry groups, including the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, have raised concerns about the impact on movie theaters, while regulators are expected to scrutinize the deal over antitrust issues. Netflix has pledged to continue supporting theatrical releases, with Warner Bros.’ cinema commitments running through 2029.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the agreement, saying it “combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love.”

Observers note that the acquisition comes 15 years after former Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian army,” underscoring the dramatic shift in the entertainment landscape.

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