By Prtincewill Ekwujuru

It’s interesting to note that despite increased pay-tv subscription in Nigeria, the sector is still expanding in the face of complaints by subscribers. The pay-tv market is actually growing in Nigeria. ABI Research had forecasted that global pay-tv subscribers will reach 858.1 million in 2012,that was a 5 percent annual increment from 2011, a number that has been surpassed.

A new TV experience for this Soweto resident!

According to the research the key growth will be driven by the Asian-Pacific market, which is expected to add more than 27million subscribers, without considering Africa and Nigeria in particular.

In Nigeria, new pay–tv companies continue to enter the market, with the latest being an indigenous Direct To Home, DTH cable television service provider, African Cable Television, ACTV, which launched into the market several months ago.

The company is concerned about the high prices that Nigerians currently pay to watch cable TV services, and its already offering content in four bouquets at affordable prices that are on an apple-to-apple comparison lower than those available on the market today.

Opinion of the public was sought on the increased number of entrants in the pay-tv sector, Austin Agbahewe, banker was of the view the entrant of ACTV will stregthen competition in the sector.

“It is a welcomed development. I would want to see a situation where more of the cable tv platforms increase in Nigeria, to give Nigerians options to choose from.” For Adeleye Ayeni, the entry of more pay-tv platforms will help increase creativity in the industry as a result of rich content and availability of options for subscribers. “I see a situation where pricing will determine viewers choice according your financial position.”

That was why Obum Udensi stated that subscribers are looking for exceptional difference in quality of pictoraland content, locally for that matter. The ACTV-6000 HD decoder is undoubtedly customers delight with its exceptional video clarity, enhanced sound quality, TV program guide, recording, picture browsing and pause-TV features.

ACTV is primed to give Nigerians the opportunity to choose their television experience with its unique offerings. Their advanced HD decoder that easily fits into one’s pocket and highly portable is one of the decoder features many customers have been looking out for. Jide Lawrence, Director of Content, ACTV, noted.

According to him, at ACTV innovation is at the forefront of everything that is done. One of the key objectives is to harness advanced digital TV technologies including content production, security and delivery to seamlessly bring all customers great TV entertainment to provide all our customers great features and functionalities integrating High Defintion TV, HDTV, PVR functionality, pause TV, picture browsing and great sound qualityin a smart and compact state-of-the art-set-top box design, said Lawrence.

ACTV offers four bouquets with over 56 local and international channels. For a pantry N1,999 subscription fee, customers enjoy its world-class content available through the ACTV Prime bouquet with 18+ channels, ACTV Family bouquet with 24+ channels, ACTV Family Max bouquet with 36+ channels and ACTV Premium bouquet with over 56+ channels.

Furthermore, the company is currently running a promo that gives customers free subscription for three months when they buy its decoder and dish for just N10,000.