By Princewill Ekwujuru

The battle for consumers’ heart in the pay-tv market has taken a new dimension with major players in the industry, Mulitichioce and StarTimes throwing drag nets to catch prospective and existing subscribers, to retain or and to increase their subscriber level.

Before now, the federal government had instructed that pay-tv providers should move from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting model.

So far so good, television stations and pay-tv platforms alike are struggling to beat the June 2015 deadline, for a digital switch over that will improve the quality of television viewership.

Meanwhile, major industry players are making efforts to muster enough subscribers, come June 2015, while other players like Infinity tv, My Tv, Consat, Darsat to mention but few, are not visible on the digital drive issue, and not making efforts at canvassing for more subscribers, a situation that might put them in a tight corner in future.

A cursory look at the market at this yuletide season revealed that Multichoice, owner of the Digital Satellite Television, DSTV and GOtv brands, recently launched a promo: ‘Multichoice Super Cruise Promo,’ using the promo run on both brands to set a bait to increase its subscriber base.

The recent is the unveiling of its single view DSTV decoder, while StarTimes, a pay-tv platform run in partnership with Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, commenced a massive free decoder give-away promo for everyone during the commenced yuletide season.

Another is StarTime’s currently running promo where it is giving out cars and other consolation prizes to subscribers, both existing and prospective.

In the ongoing promo, which started November 14 to end February 6, 2015, Multichoice Nigeria promised subscribers 20 Kia RIO cars, courtesy KIA Motors Nigeria, 100 plasma Television sets, 30 DSTV explora decoders, 60 -3 months subscription on GOtv with a condition for subscribers and prospects to buy DSTV decoders with three months subscription for three months on DSTV Access, Family and compact, including the premium bouquet. Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, said the company is committed to consistently rewarding its loyal customers, while emphasizing that apart from the 20 Kia Rio cars, Multi- Choice is also giving away 100 Plasma TV screens, or 30 DStv Exploras decoders to DStv and GOtv subscribers.

“We are giving our existing subscribers a chance to also cruise away in a Kia Rio, simply by staying connected to DStv” Mabutho said.

Multichoice is also saying that it has just launched its first HD single view decoder. According to the company the DStv HD decoder delivers great HD signals and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound accessible to DStv subscribers.

Multichoice said the DStv HD decoder will replace the existing standard definition single view decoder.

“The launch bears testament to our continued investment in technology to ensure DStv delivers the best television experience in Africa. The DStv HD decoder will ensure that more subscribers will have access to DStv’s HD channel offering. High definition creates a far superior television viewing experience in terms of picture quality and the Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound adds a new dimension to the audio experience. The DStv HD Decoder will open up a new world for many DStv subscribers,” says John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria.

For StarTimes, the give-away promo is part of its commitment to commemorate the festive season and ensure every Nigerian enjoys digital TV experience. It further said the 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.