Multichoice or StarTimes, people say the GAP is too wide but we feel its worth comparing as the later has been improving her customer base on daily bases.
Background
MultiChoice the service provider of Dstv commenced operation in Nigeria on the 6th October 1995 (28 years old)
with services of multiple audio, radio and television channels to subscribers. Whereas StarTimes started operation since 2008 (15 Years old). Definitely, Multichoice have lots of Nigeria experience than StarTimes. However, StarTimes came into the Nigerian market with much more flexible and cheaper technology.
Rivalry
Before now, only average families and upper class could boldly boast of having Dstv decoders in their homes, emergence of StarTimes gave the lower class hope of enjoying digital television with much more cheaper access to TV services using a decoder and antenna model technology in addition to the dish system which they also provided.
Multichoice the service provider of Dstv saw this as a fierce competition while still retaining their originality lunched Gotv on the 5th September 2011. Gotv uses decoder and antenna also for its operation.
Technology
Lets discuss the following terminology for better understanding on how Multichoice and StarTimes deliver their services;
DTT-Digital terrestrial television, a technology which transmits content via radio waves over short distances via an antenna.
DTH-Direct-to-home (DTH) Broadcasting Service refers to the distribution of multi-channel TV programs by using a satellite system.
OTT– Over-The-Top television; it’s a term for when people watch video content natively on their TVs via the internet by downloading OTT apps to smart devices.
StarTimes is simultaneously running DTT, DTH and OTT businesses in African market, and the only company who is engaged in B2B and B2C business at the same time. StarTimes aims to become a media group with international influence.
DSTV uses the Eutelsat W4 satellite at a position of 36.1 degrees East. DSTV (which stand for Digital Satellite Television). Gotv uses Digital terrestrial television (abbreviated as DTT).
Pricing
StarTimes offers flexible and relatively cheaper subscription cost vis a vis Gotv and Dstv packages. For example, StarTimes offers daily, weekly and monthly plans whereas, Dstv and Gotv only offers monthly packages.
The highest monthly cost for StarTimes DTH with StarTimes Chinese package customers is N9,800 with average cost of decoder of N9,900. The StarTimes Classic monthly bouquet for DTT is N3,100 for average decoder price of N8,900. The StarTimes Classic package has 22 channels as follows:
1. ZEE ONE
2. ST ADEPA
3. ST MANIA
4. FOX NEWS
5. ESPN 2
6. COLORS
7. ST NOLLYWOOD PLUS
8. ST BOLLYWOOD
9. STAR GOLD
10. ST MOVIES PLUS
11. STAR PLUS
12. TDC
13. EUROSPORT NEWS
14. BABY TV
15. ST SPORTS PREMIUM
16. E!
17. NGW
18. NGC
19. ST WORLD FOOTBALL HD.
20. ST NOVELA E PLUS
21. DREAMWORKS
22. CBEEBIES
Multichoice do not offer flexible weekly or daily plans on their services. The highest monthly cost for Dstv DSTH Premium subscription is 24,500 with over 160 channels and N16,500 being average cost of decoder. Gotv has Gotv Supa package of N6,400 having 80 channels. Gotv decoder cost average of N10,500.
Gotv Joli with a N3,300 montly bouquet price has the following channel list:
1. Africa Magic Yoruba ( 2)
2. Africa Magic Hausa ( 3 )
3. Africa Magic Igbo ( 4 )
4. Africa Magic Epic ( 6 )
5. Africa Magic Family ( 7 )
6. Magic Showcase ( 11 )
7. Trybe ( 13 )
8. Televista ( 14 )
9. ONMAX ( 15 )
10. TVC Entertainment ( 16)
11. Afia TV ( 17 )
12. Spice TV ( 19 )
13. ROK GH ( 20 )
14. Sound City ( 21 )
15. HIP TV ( 22 )
16. Arise News ( 24 )
17. TVC News Nigeria ( 25 )
18. NTA News ( 26 )
19. CHANNELS ( 27 )
20. LAGOS TV ( 120 )
21. SILVERBIRD ( 121 )
22. AIT ( 122 )
23. NTA 1 ( 124 )
24. NTA 2 ( 125 )
25. NTA Parliamentary ( 126 )
26. Wazobia TV ( 128 )
27. WAP ( 129 )
28. Tiwa n Tiwa ( 131 )
29. Galaxy TV ( 132 )
30. OGTV ( 133 )
31. BCOS ( 135 )
32. Arewa 24 ( 136 )
33. Liberty ( 137 )
34. ITV Benin ( 140 )
35. EBS ( 141 )
36. RSTV ( 142 )
37. BISCON TV ( 144 )
38. R2TV ( 145 )
39. RAVE ( 146 )
40. Zee World ( 30 )
41. TeleMundo ( 33 )
42. Real Time ( 35 )
43. E! Entertainment ( 36 )
44. Discovery Family ( 37 )
45. CBS Reality ( 39 )
46. BET ( 40 )
47. MTV Base ( 45 )
48. TNT Africa ( 52 )
49. B4U Movies ( 57 )
50. SS Football ( 61 )
51. SS Select 2 ( 64 )
52. BBC News ( 70 )
53. Al Jazeera ( 71 )
54. CNN International ( 72 )
55. JimJam ( 80 )
56. Disney Junior ( 82 )
57. PBS Kids ( 84 )
58. Nickelodeon ( 87 )
59. NatGeo Wild (51) ( 100 )
60. Faith ( 110 )
61. Islam ( 111 )
62. Emmanuel TV ( 112 )
63. Dove TV ( 83 )
64. Sunna TV ( 114 )
Overall, Gotv and Dstv maybe at face value more expensive than StarTimes but offer better quality entertaining channels with much more live sporting events. Multichoice also has exclusive rights to premiership which is the most popular sporting league in Nigeria.
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