Startimes Bids for AFCON’s Hosting Rights

Management of Startimes Nigeria on Tuesday unveiled plans to bid for the hosting rights of the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Director Operations, Startimes, Maxwell Loko disclosed this at a press conference held in Abuja, saying the company has injected N15bn over the past two years since its entry into the Nigerian economy, via the digital terrestrial television network otherwise known as pay television.

Loko explained that the firm is currently perfecting negotiations to acquire hosting rights to air the forthcoming African Cup of Nations. He also unveiled additional packages to be provided by the company, including DVB-T2 decoder, M50 Mobile TV phone and the launch of the Door-to-Door service.\

According to Loko, the DVB-T2 technology’s unique advantage is its ability to offer more educative, informative and entertaining programmes, one frequency having the capacity for 25 channels.

Loko explained that the latest introduction places Nigeria at the same level with other African countries like Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda where, Startimes had introduced the technology.

"Besides the African Cup of Nations, which will be provided on the bouquet for Nigerians to enjoy, the Startimes DVB-T2 decoder will gather over seventy channels of great sport, music, movies, news, kids and teens entertainment, documentary, religion and lots more,” he assured.

“Other exciting channels to join the T2 decoder channel list soon are WAP TV, EuropeSports News, Africa Movie Channel, A Music Channel (AMC), Business TV, Freshwave among others.”

Loko also noted that the company has captured 16 states and promised that the expansion programme will establish its presence in 15 other states 

The Chinese company, currently sharing partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), described terrestrial broadcasting all over the world as being capital-intensive.

On his part, Chief Operating Officer of Starttimes, Joshua Wang reiterated that the focus of the company is beyond profit-making but rather the challenge of achieving its corporate social responsibility, especially in relation to migration policy from analogue to digital broadcasting in the country.

“Our mission is to ensure that every home in Nigeria enjoys affordable digital entertainment backed by the collaboration with NTA, a strategic partnership that will help Nigeria in actualising its 2015 transition deadline,” he added.