How is HITV going to compete with the new Trend and AIT DTH that are about to be launched?

The market cannot sustain all these players, DSTV will hit the market hard this month with the $2.50 a month sub and 11 channels. They are not top notch channels but neither (if you take out the sport) are HITV's.

I believe that HITV will have flat lined by now as any sports fan will already have taken HITV , there is no programme incentive to go the HITV route.

Hi urfriend
I agree there is no meat on the bone, and as dekin says how much is the decoder and the dish. They have been clever though giving free kids games but that will make the middleware more expensive. This launch I believe is aimed at platforms that are not investing in good content and it is also clever marketing to get new viewers onto their platform. This not just Nigeria they are targeting, it is the GTV, Myafrica and anyone else who wants to enter into the market at a lower level. Remember Multichoice is a cash cow and must make a profit of tens of millions of dollars per year, they can throw more money at this business than we can dream of and not lose any sleep about it.

All the free to air are already being transmitted and paid for by the main subscribers and the channels in this package will only be cents per sub. The quality of terrestrial channels are pretty bad so people will pay just to get a better quality picture.

Whoever loses out in the next EPL round will not survive unless they have built up robust content, there are two kings in this business, Content and of course the customer, they go hand in hand.

I am pleased to see that your content outside of sport is growing, have you taken another transponder to broadcast them? Your single transponder must be bursting at the seems.

What is HITV's answer going to be to the following press release today?

MultiChoice Africa Launches Easyview

| Posted: Monday, February 04, 2008

MultiChoice Africa, the leading pay-TV operator on the continent, has announced what it calls “one of the biggest single contributions to Africa’s digital future”. The company, which has established a world-class reputation for innovative offerings and pioneering technology, has now launched a new product DStv EasyView.

With an affordable annual subscription fee of just USD 30 (GC30) a year, DStv Easyview debuted in several markets simultaneously. Offering unprecedented mass market access to multi-channel, pay-TV services, it’s the first product of its kind ever introduced on the continent.

With its pricing the equivalent of USD 2.50 a month, DStv EasyView is destined to positively transform the landscape of the pay-TV in Africa.

Available from February 14, DStv EasyView effectively makes pay-TV accessible to millions of viewers, allowing them to share in a world of news, music, movies, sport and more. Its creation also allows MultiChoice Africa to explore a broad new market segment, previously untapped in the pay-TV sector.

MultiChoice Africa CEO Eben Greyling says that the latest product launch is a result of the company’s ongoing aim to deliver relevant product options that meet the viewing and budget needs of a wide range of consumers.

“We’re incredibly proud that MultiChoice Africa is the first to offer this service. DStv EasyView is a product that we designed specifically to offer the benefits of digital information, education and entertainment to a wide new community of subscribers. Further, we’ve always believed that the continent’s success is our success. Therefore it’s of great importance to us that we play a significant role in assisting Africa to bridge the digital divide while also growing our business.”

Encompassing both international and local programming, DStv EasyView offers the same unbeatable product quality that has come to define MultiChoice’s product offerings, from its prestigious DStv Premium bouquet to its attractive Compact and Family offerings.

With channels such as the headline-driven Al Jazeera, the panoramic National Geographic Wild, the all-action SuperSport Update, the educational Mindset Learn and the M-Net packaged MagicWorld channel among others, DStv EasyView combines high value, affordable pricing and great programming. Subscribers can also access interactive gaming via Playjam Games plus 14 radio channels.

One of the highlight features of the DStv EasyView package is the inclusion of local free-to-air channels. This inclusion allows widespread coverage for public broadcasters who have previously been challenged by the reception limitations of analogue signals.

The launch of DStv EasyView is directly in line with MultiChoice Africa’s deep commitment to creating a vibrant and exciting television industry in Africa.

The company, which was the creator of the first digital satellite broadcasting system outside the US, has an unparalleled history of investing in local film production industries and showcasing home-grown talent.

Having been in operation for over a decade, MultiChoice Africa has also honed its state-of-the-art delivery mechanisms while continuously upgrading its payment options. It has also invested extensively in the growth of its staff and its consumer service. Further, in partnering with African governments in the creation of unique MultiChoice Resource Centres, the company has invested significant amounts of time and money to aid learning across the continent.

Source: MultiChoice

Hi Urfriend
It is none of my business why Oga was in london.
I don't disagree with you they have lots of sports content and sure that is great but sport is a driver, not the only driver. 50% of DSTV's subscriber base is not sports. HITV has to come up to the plate for the rest of the population that are not sports fanatics with quality channels that are professionally broadcast. Don't keep blaming Eutelsat they do only what they are told.
Lets look at the real world, when one operator buys another in another country, the first thing it is going to do is rationalise the work which is the same in both countries, it will bring the work back to its own country and operate like Multichoice, then Nigeria is back to the old routine. Another point I believe is that an operator buying out another will want the majority share, its normal, then how would HITV retain the "Proudly Nigerian" slogan.
Operators normally look at the 7 year plan to break even and would look at potential takeovers with that in mind. 18 months from now the EPL will be bringing out the EPL tender again, I think a potential investor would want to see who wins the next EPL round before seriously talking about takeovers.
As you said give HITV time before speaking about takeovers and let them get a diverse platform across the full population.

Hi Ufriend

You could be right it may have been their December figures and it was only DTH.
Understand that Oga was in the smoke (London) this week, after your comments, was he trying to sell off HITV to one of the other DTH operators?
I don't think that HITV is in a good position to be sold, as A-40 said without EPL HITV has nothing to offer.

When GTV launch in Cotonou and they will soon, they are already in Ghana, GTV (that looks like a European quality DTH channels, no blackouts) will include the EPL. FA Cup in English. It could be a major threat the HITV, how many subscribers will buy the STB in Benin/Ghana and watch it "illegally" in Nigeria? GTV is on Eutelsat W4 and that covers all of Nigeria, so the same as Multichoice, HITV dish although using NDS conditional access.
Interesting to see what will happen!

Just checking with a content providers to HITV, they reckon 20,000 subscribers is closer to the truth. If HITV decides to sell then due diligence will find the truth.

@urfriend

Impressed, 50,000 subscribers, well, well, well that is good news. I would have thought that they would have flatlined by now with anyone interested in football already taken up their subscriptions. I suppose some more would have signed up for the African Nations Cup. Lets see how it progresses after that.

@kashikapor

I like your thoughts, yes I am in London and in the business, I know the Nigerian DTH market very well, I hate to see it in a mess.

I see on the 17th Jan DAAR were awarded a DTH license and are starting a DTH platform in April/May, more fun and games. At least Dr Raymond Dokpesi is a media specialist and a load of experience, it will be interesting to see what their platform is offering. This guy could turn out to be a serious contender to Multichoice as he would have done a lot of research before going into this market. I saw him and his team at MIPCOM talking with quite a few good content providers.

I also understand that Trend want to get back into the market and have taken a transponder on Eutelsats W4 (same as HITV and Multichoice).

There will be only room for two players, who will they be your guess is as good as mine.

Hi urfriend,
I think if you check you will find that NBC stipulates that Nigerians must have the majority in a Nigerian DTH platform to have a DTH license, HITV is a Nigerian platform. Any overseas investor would not see any interest in HITV as it stands, they have the EPL and La Liga and not much else. Sport is not the only driver on a platform.
HITV would need to have at least 40,000 subscribers, month on month, just to amortize the money they spent on sport alone (almost $38 million), never mind the millions of US Dollars you say they spent on their playout centers.
GTB must be a very understanding bank!
There are only just over two more years of the EPL left, then they will have to fight Multichoice and maybe even GTV.
Telkom have said once they launch in SA they will be targeting Nigeria and Angola, so maybe they will be in the fight as well.
The future looks interesting for Nigeria, there is only room for two DTH platforms in any one country, lets hope that HITV can remain the second platform.

Hi Urfriend
Sure DSTV transmits on MPEG2 and for them to change to MPEG4 for HDTv will be expensive, so I think they will roll it out with HDTV PVR's before the world cup in SA.
I don't think that Murdoch, Virgin or even Gateway would buy HITV in the state that it is in just now and what about this "proudly Nigerian" slogan if they sell out, remember over 50% will have to remain in Nigerian hands to keep the DTH licence.

Hi Urfriend,

Sure I am in the UK what difference does that make, I know the Nigerian scene very well and I travel in and out for many years and love Nigeria. I would also love to see HITV succeed but we live in a real world. I know that HITV have spent millions in playout centres but transponders send down the signals. Are you trying to tell me that HITV can have more that satellite 15 channels on MPEG2 and one transponder? I would love to know if the technology exists, by the way MPEG4 carries 25-26 channels on one transponder.

The industry in Europe and the States are going to MPEG4 for HDTV, mark my words that is the future. HITV invested in the cheaper MPEG2 technology and because of that will have to invest a lot more money if they ever want to go HDTV. Nigeria is selling almost 8,000 HDTV ready flat screens a month and the only way that people in Nigeria will see this high definition revolution; that is until a DTH platform introduces it, is with Blue-ray or HD DVD players. Nigeria deserves the latest television DTH technologies you certainly have it in the phone sector, I see phones in Nigeria at the same time they are for sale in Europe.

Nigerian investors are frightened to invest into these Nigerian DTH projects especially when the see the failures of the past FSTV and Trend. HITV have had a great opportunity getting investors, believe me without EPL they would have found it very difficult to get them. Lets hope they can build on it because if they go down then the possibility of Nigerian investors coming into this sector again are very very slim.

Check out MSDS, where does it work?
They had to dismantle the system in Gabon because it would not work, even in Europe there are major problems trying to get it to work.

As you say Eutelsat carries DSTV as well as HITV, why is it that DSTV works while HITV doesn't, don't blame Eutelsat they only do what they are only paid to do. A single transponder rental from Eutelsat is about $1.5 million per year, one transponder in MPEG2 (HITV & Multichoice) can carry no more than 15 channels and HITV has only one transponder. Sport takes a lot of extra bandwidth that why HITV pixeletes so much, they are overloading their one transponder.

GTV are also on Eutelsat W4 and they only started last June, they cover Africa apart from Nigeria and SA and have already over 50,000 subscribers and none of the problems of HITV, they also have all the EPL for Africa (apart from Nigeria and South Africa), ask any anyone that have seen it in operation in Ghana and compare it with HITV.

If HITV are to bring more than 15 channels then they will need another transponder, another $1.5 million + the cost of the channels. The picture quality can also be down to the quality of the STB, cheaper the box the worse the picture.

If HITV had a good Conditional Access system, like DSTV and GTV they would be able to update all the software from satellite, the problems they have are due to buying the cheapest CA around.
All in all, an old computer saying "rubbish in rubbish out" is true in any field.

@const6, @Enigma

Manufacturers such as Strong do make boxes that can read multiple Conditional Accesses but often the satellite provider "tweaks" the conditional access to their advantage and even this Strong box will have trouble reading the card.

The latest trick that is used by Nagra and NDS (GTV) links the card with the box, i.e. the card will only work with that box that is registered with them, try it in another box and you might be lucky to get the Free to Air but certainly no encrypted channels. This is the way that Conditional access providers will be moving in the future, remember that they can change you card via satellite overnight and even switch it off if the card does not match the box.

@const6

Conditional Access encryption is used by all programmes that require payment from the satellite operator, such as E!, MGM, Sony, MNET, Setanta and the EPL among others. Other programs, usually in country programs (NTA etc), religious and news programs (apart from CNN) are normally Free to Air.
The problem is that a Set Top Box can only have one Conditional Access in it, such as Conax with HITV and MYTVAFRICA boxes. The Multichoice box is using another type encryption called IRDETO.
HITV, MYAFRICA Conax encryption cannot be read by IRDETO encryption as used in the Multichoice boxes and vice versa. All that will be seen using Multichoice cards in the HITV/MYTV Box are the channels that are not encrypted.
Hope this helps.

@Experts.

I am using the new HITV Decoder (their customised), and i want to subscribe to DSTV Family (i have their smartcard), but i can only get 11 channels of DSTV which include nigeria local stations and SS3 and QQRTV. apart from these eleven channels, my decoder is not showing the rest at all (not scrambled oo). They are not even in the channel list and i want to subscribe because of the entertainment of DSTV, is there anybody that can help on what i can do for these channels to show.

Thanks, waiting for that response

Hi Guys
You will not be able to watch DSTV and HITV on the same box, even though they are on Eutelsat W4, they use different Conditional Access systems HITV use Conax encryption while DSTV use Irdeto. All you will be able to see are their unscrambled channels.

I am impressed with the technical knowledge out there, although Free to Air is not technically Free to Air but Free to See. Someone somewhere is paying to transmit these channels from satellite and it is normally the subscribers in that country that is targeted are paying for it. There is nothing for nothing in this life. Unless the rights are cleared for Nigeria it is illegal to view these channels.

I understand the problem that Nigerians are fed up with seeing DSTV showing them what they want to transmit and charging the earth form it and are also fed up with the second rate packages offered by local DTH providers, not all potential DTH viewers are EPL football fanatics.

What type of programs do you watch on your "Free to Air" that you would want to see transmitted directly to Nairaland by a local DTH platform?

Terrestrial Free to Air will come to Nigeria within 5 years, but the advertisements in the programmes will be greatly increased to pay for this. When Nigeria converts to Digital you will notice, if it is done correctly, a great difference in the amount of channels available locally as well as the picture quality, although the content quality will also have to improve to keep you guys happy.

Hi Guys

I am new to the forum but have been reading it since early last year, I live in England and see things differently. I do know a bit about Nigeria and have been visiting Nigeria for many years.

I wish HiTV well with their venture, people out there have to remember that these guys have invested a tonne of money to get where they are today and I commend them to be up and running, They spent almost $40 million on football and although this is a driver for the platform there are a lot of Nigerians that just want good programming apart from football and they deserve it. Just to pay for the cost of the football they will need at least 100,000 subscribers and that is not easy with football alone. DSTV have at least 150,000 subscribers and as we know that took them 10 years.

With maximum of 16 channels on DTH (the maximum channels on the one transponder they lease)will not excite Nigerians to go out and buy HiTV, outside of football. Check out DSTV when the EPL rights come up again they have deep pockets, so HiTV please get your platform together before then.

The CNN exclusivity question is irrelevant as there are better news channels and CNN are the only people to have exclusive news rights with DSTV. Even if the rights were available then CNN (or any other provider for that matter) have the right to sell to HiTV or not. Nigerian platform operators have to pay a premium (and often up front) for content, one of the only countries in the world. Why because other Nigerian platforms have failed and have cost content providers a fortune in lost revenue.

Being proudly Nigerian is great, but any DTH operating in Nigeria has to be a majority owned by Nigerians, therefore the majority of the dividends remain in Nigeria. Nigerians know what is good quality and there is no reason why they should not get it.
Why not use foreign expertise to set up the platform, then release them after say five years, when the Nigerian platform is fully trained and running profitably, seems sense to me?

I always read with interest all your comments and hope that HiTV can make the dream come true of a Nigerian DTH platform to compete with DSTV, please give them time, Rome was not built in a day.