HI-TV, Nigeria’s premier terrestrial pay TV operator, is set to launch its satellite transmission from August 1, HiTV with free 100,000 decoders to viewers across Nigerian in its Hi-Gift promotion.

The promo which kicks off in August would see 100,000 prospective subscribers gain access, without cost of decoder and installation, to premium television programming and content across Nigeria provided they can pay N48, 000 yearly subscriptions.

Those who get the decoder and dish in the promo will not pay installation cost of N25, 000, instead they would only be required to pay the monthly subscription of N4,000 only for a year.

Subscribers can also make arrangements with their banks especially Gtbank, GTB, for planned payment for access to HITV. To be qualified, viewers can visit the HITV website to fill the form provided on the site.

The company has also signed on three Nigerian broadcast channels as part of offerings on its premium Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite bouquet.
The broadcast outfits are Nigeria’s first all news station, Channels Television, first 24-hour Yoruba language television, Amuludun Television, owned by the Lagos State Broadcast Corporation, LSBC and Port Harcourt based Multimesh Cable Television, MCTV.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HITV, Toyin Subair, disclosed this recently in Lagos when the new pay TV operator announced the next phase of its roll out plan for the whole country.
According to Subair, Channels Television would provide 24 hour news channels different from the programming it does on its terrestrial free-to-air station in Nigeria, while Amuludun would be a 24 hour Yoruba language channel put together by LSBC, owners of Lagos Television, Radio Lagos and Eko 89.75FM.

MCTV is a cable service provider based in Port Harcourt which is working in collaboration with HITV to bring premium television programming to five states within South-South zone of the country.
Subair hinted that HITV will give some of its channels to MCTV to add to its bouquet of 10 channels and transmit within its area of operation, while it will take of MCTV channels and put on its own DTH satellite and export to its global audience.

Also, international celebrity magazine, Ovation, has been in talks with HITV to create a television version of the magazine which will be known as Hi-Ovation.

Publisher of the renowned magazine, Dele Momodu, who was present at the press briefing which took place at Planet One in Maryland, Lagos confirmed the plans to put Ovation on television for Nigerians and the international audience to celebrate the achievement of the black man.
Momodu explained that he had many offers to do this before now but he declined, reiterating that the idea was novel and achievable.

Confirming the partnership with HITV, spokesman for Channels Television, Olayiwola Fadero, said it is an opportunity for the first indigenous all-news station to do what it does best and take its rating to the international arena.
Fadero said that as the most credible news source in Nigeria, Channels is ready to take the challenge and tell the Nigerian story the Nigerian way.

Representing LSBC on the occasion was the Director of News, Mr. Ayo Agbesanwa, who stated that the venture of an all Yoruba television channel is in tandem with the vision of the repackaged Lagos Broadcasting organisation which it believes is worth being involved in.

Responding for MCTV, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Sir Godfrey Nwabunwa, said he knows the terrain and challenges that HITV is facing in its efforts to make TV viewing cheaper for Nigerians and expressed happiness that it would be used to create impact for Nigerian cartoons and children’s shows.

I need to know if the launch on august 1 will be for a normal dish the same small dish they are using now. since they say they are launching DTH it should be a dish.

I just hope their launch would improve the services, about 6 of the channels aint working yet, also their inclusion of stations not on their list is a gross misrepresentation, e.g. skynews and Nicoledeon,

pls can anyone tell me how many channels they have

like 20 or more with like 6 not showing and 7 not working 24hrs

This will be a hit. Nigerians like "free" things.

I need a link to the web page you copied this from, please.

Seun: I got the news from the sun newspaper
http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/suntech/2007/july/25/suntech-25-07-2007-001.htm

You can checkout the redesigned website.

GTBank invests N2bn in HITV

GuarantY Trust Bank, (GTB) Plc has given support to the country’s new indigenous pay television operator, HITV, with N2 billion credit facility. Announcing the partnership at a press briefing, Mr. Toyin Subair, Managing Director\Chief Executive Officer of HITV, said that GTBank is providing over two billion naira facility for the new outfit to provide Nigerians with affordable international standard television viewing experience.

The support by GTBank, according to him, is coming on the wake of disclosure by HITV that it is set to begin its second phase of roll out via its new Direct-To-Home, DTH, satellite broadcast platform which begins in August.

Speaking before representatives of GTB as well as officials of Channels Television, Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, LSBC, owners of Lagos Television, Radio Lagos and Eko 89.75 FM and another cable TV operator, Multimesh Cable Television, MCTV, who are also partnering with HITV, Subair explained that with this amount, GTB now becomes the new pay TV operator's banker.

Subair further stated that GTB would also be providing funding for the acquisition of content for the new pay TV platform.
Stressing further, the Managing Director said: “This is remarkable because most banks do not finance TV programming content. How do you convince them to bankroll content as against what will yield them higher interest? Television content is intangible and most financial institutions are not willing to venture into it but GTBank has shown much faith in us,” Subair noted.

He also noted that the bank would be providing financial advisory support for the structuring of HITV content business.
The HITV boss stressed that GTB has been instrumental to helping the company overcome funding and financial challenges.

By this, the Managing Director of HITV affirmed that the company would be able to reach the nooks and crannies of the country directly for Nigerians to access its programmes.
On the other hand, GTB would through its branches across the country, provide payment outlets for the acquisition of H ITV decoders and dish.


The partnership between the two companies comes just before HITV launches its satellite broadcast platform which will commence on August 1, 2007. The company revealed that the DTH platform would begin with 16 channels on its Eutelsat frequency for anyone to have access to channels all over the world.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/business/july07/23072007/b423072007.html

[b]the redesigned HITV website is [/b]www.hitv.com.ng

can u imagine hitv not showing the chelsea v man u match, Feel like burning their decoder, am really begining to doubt their showing the premiership games, SOMEBODY HELP!

Yes, they didnt show the Community Shield match (Man U vs Chelski ) because they didnt have rights to it, more to come, i dont think they have rights to show FA Cup and the League Cup , so just wait and watch the Premiership Solely, but still i am going for them, cos premiership can be seen cheaply now. Dont throw the decoder away, cos they will improve definately next season.

Happy viewing

the issue with nigerians is that we are always optimistic, these guys (HITV) promised so much any yet they are delivering so little. am tired with people asking us to give them chance.