The renewed rivalry between Nigerian cable television companies and their South African counterpart, Multichoice Nigeria, owner of the Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) took a new twist recently when the later deployed into the market a hand held decoder; the Drifta.

Drifta, according to the owners will enable subscribers enjoy television on the go, anywhere, anytime, also lined up on the DStv Drifta Mobile bouquet are; entertainment channels like Africa Magic, Africa Magic Yoruba; E-Entertainment Mobile and BET.

The free to air channels include NTA Plus, channel Channel 0 and Trace Urban, sports channels SS Blitz, SuperSport 9, SuperSport 10 and SuperSport 3 Nigeria for DStv Premium subscribers only, news from CNN and NN24 and children’s programming on Cartoon Network Mobile.

Adewunmi Ogunsanya, DSTV Nigeria Chairman, said during the unveiling of the new mobile decoder that the introduction follows a long line of technological innovations as DStv’s Mobile, High Definition decoders and integrated customer services tools.

He said the introduction was an addition to the continuous efforts of DSTV to transform the way Nigerian consumers access news, information and entertainment, by ensuring that they have access to all the latest breaking television news in real time through direct to home Digital Satellite technology. “When we introduced DStv Mobile on DVB-H allowing for the digital terrestrial broadcast of live television channels to mobile telephones in 2007 it was groundbreaking, and with the launch of the Drifta, we are yet again making history.

A new technology such as mobile television requires significant amounts of investments, however it is an investment that we are committed to make to ensure that Nigerians have access to the latest media and technology available.”

According to him, the concept was born out of the desire of the company to take its customers far away from the usual stress they go through during the days.