Broadcasting
StarTimes Launches Nova Bouquet, Slashes Subscription to N17/Day
StarTimes, foremost cable TV service provider, on Wednesday announced the launch of its newest and most affordable bouquet called Nova ahead of the digital switch over deadline in 2015, in a bold move to enable more Nigerians conveniently switch over to and enjoy full digital television experience.
The Nova bouquet retailing at N500 per month implies StarTime has reduced the subscription to N17 per day.
It went live nationwide on Monday February 9; it is permanent and becomes the fourth bouquet available on StarTimes, specially designed for the entry level customers.
Its introduction, StarTimes said, was aimed at further facilitating a smooth and convenient transition from analogue to digital broadcasting by creating the most affordable bouquet that anyone can afford.
This is really to make it easier and comfortable for more Nigerians to get access and enjoy digital television without stress or missing their favorite television programs when the analogue TV gets switched off later in 2015.
The Nova bouquet retailing at just N500 per month gives new subscribers access to a digital television experience with over 15 channels; 8 international channels, including Star Kungfu, Star Music, Star Dadin Kowa (Hausa channel), E-Stars (Nollywood), Child Smile, CCTV-News, TBN, IQRAA and about 7 local channels, including NTA news 24, NTA sports, AIT, Channels TV, Silverbird, NTA Local, other state TV stations and other analogue TV stations like TVC, MiTV, Super Screen and Galaxy.
Speaking at the launch of the new bouquet in Lagos, Mr. Israel Bolaji, public relations manager, StarTimes, NTA Star-TV Network, said the new digital TV bouquet was designed to offer new subscribers an affordable bundle that makes switching over to digital TV more convenient, promote refreshing television experience and create values that will further deepen digital television penetration in Nigeria.
“In the coming days, more Nigerians will have to acquire type approved digital set top boxes, most of those who will be affected by the switch over in 2015 are first time buyers; We observed 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,” Bolaji said.
Bolaji observed that the move is advised by the company’s mission to ensure every household access and enjoys digital television noting that the company has rolled out extensive after sales services to ensure the best customer experience with the StarTimes set top box.
“This is our strategy to ensure all Nigerians have access to digital television.
“We are committed to a smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting while enabling Nigerians to overcome entry barriers through affordability as we equally showcase our premium channel offering and customer centered after sales services that will swiftly manage any challenges faced by our customers,” he added.
“As a platform for digital migration, we are ever committed to supporting Nigerians actualize the 2015 deadline by ensuring that Nigerians get the best of digital television at an affordable price. We 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,” Bolaji noted.
On his part, Ayokunle Idowu, content manager, StarTimes, said that the channels were carefully selected after a study by the Station and reflect the wishes of viewers who will even enjoy other contents imbedded in the channels.
Idowu said that StarTimes as a Digital Television service provider currently operating in 13 African countries with Digital TV technology, it has established a powerful and secure multi-frequency and multi-channel digital wireless TV transmission platform.
Also, StarTimes with StarSAT 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, noted Somoye Habeeb, marketing manager, StarTimes.
In Nigeria, StarTimes is joint venture collaboration between Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Star Communication Network CO, Limited of China. Its immediate mandate is to provide digital TV services, using digital terrestrial television (DTT) and DTH technology to build a multiple frequency platform.
On the long term, it plans to expand into advertisement and signal transfer services, mobile phone television and wireless internet services.
Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) has established six committees to help strengthen and modernize the country’s broadcasting industry.
The committees will focus on content creation, skills development, digital transformation, sustainability, policy and commercial opportunities
The initiative aims to support industry growth and improve collaboration between broadcasters, regulators and media experts
The official launch recently, was led by Tony Akiotu, president, BON and attended by media professionals, program directors, former journalists and heads of specialized media organizations.
The event brought together several prominent figures in Nigeria’s media industry, including veteran broadcaster and trainer Bimbo Oloyede, Tony Uyah of M4S TV, Kingsley Uranta of Channels Television, Ismael Sani of Platinum TV and Ibrahim Shehu of Trust TV.
Together, they are expected to help drive innovation and support the growth of Nigeria’s broadcasting sector.
According to Akiotu, the committees are intended both to help shape industry policy and to provide a forum for dialogue between BON and broadcasting experts.
Akiotu said the ad hoc committees were intended to strengthen BON’s work and ensure that the umbrella body for Nigeria’s broadcasters played a more direct and meaningful role in developing the country’s broadcasting sector.
The six committees reflect the sector’s main priorities. The first focuses on collaboration and innovation to promote content creation.
The second is dedicated to training and talent development, while the third focuses on industry sustainability by improving the sector’s long-term financial viability.
A fourth committee will focus on digital transformation and work with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on regulatory issues.
The remaining two committees will oversee public policy advocacy and the development of sports and commercial rights to help broadcasters increase revenue and attract more investment. Together, the committees are expected to guide BON’s efforts to modernize and strengthen Nigeria’s broadcasting industry.
The committees, chaired by members of BON’s General Assembly and supported by the organization’s Secretariat, have an initial 12-month mandate that may be renewed if necessary.
They are required to submit a progress report within three months and implement approved recommendations within the following six months.
The arrangement is intended to ensure close oversight and the timely implementation of their work.
Akiotu also reminded committee members that Nigeria pioneered television broadcasting in Africa and urged them to carry out their work with greater effectiveness and efficiency.
Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says it is investigating about 34 tertiary institutions over allegations that they failed to refund students whose tuition fees were paid twice under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this during an interview on Arise Television.
Sawyerr said the agency had deployed a five-member investigative team, including operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and internal auditors, to examine the allegations.
According to him, the investigation was prompted by numerous complaints received from affected students.
“As of right now, there are 34 institutions that we are looking at closely with respect to this issue,” he said.
Sawyerr explained that the double payment issue arose because President Bola Tinubu directed that the student loan scheme commence in the middle of an academic session instead of at the beginning.
He said the decision compelled many students to pay their tuition fees to meet registration deadlines while awaiting approval of their loan applications.
“What happened is that a lot of schools got double payment; some from the students and some from us,” he said.
“The refund process is entirely out of our hands. It is the recipient of the double payments that is obliged to make refunds to the students.”
The NELFUND boss noted that many students had borrowed money from family members, friends and other sources to pay their tuition with the expectation of receiving refunds once the loans were disbursed.
He said while some institutions had promptly refunded affected students, others had failed to do so.
“Some have been very good at this. Others haven’t been so good at it,” Sawyerr said.
“I reserve judgement on the intentionality around it because, for some of them, they just didn’t have the process to make refunds.”
Sawyerr disclosed that NELFUND was exploring a tokenised payment system that would enable students to authorise tuition payments directly to their institutions, thereby reducing the likelihood of duplicate payments.
He said the agency deliberately chose not to disburse tuition loans directly to students to minimise the risk of fund diversion.
“Paying the funds to the students could really lead to the temptation for them to divert and do other things,” he said.
The managing director, however, acknowledged that NELFUND lacked the statutory powers to compel institutions to refund students or prosecute officials found culpable.
He added that many frustrated students had submitted complaints not only to NELFUND but also to anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Sawyerr also expressed concern over increases in tuition fees by some institutions following the introduction of the student loan scheme.
He said NELFUND had declined to pay institutions that increased their tuition fees beyond acceptable levels.
“Some schools, because they get paid easily, started to put up their fees. We refused, point blank, to pay institutions who had hiked their fees beyond a certain level,” he said.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to investigating every reported irregularity and strengthening the implementation of the student loan programme through continuous monitoring and internal reviews.
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