TSTV To Begin Commercial Operation On Nov 1

Telecom Satellite TV (TSTV) says its newly inaugurated pay TV, TSTV Africa, will begin commercial operation on Nov. 1.

Its Managing Director, Mr Bright Echefu, made this known while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Abuja.

Echefu added that TSTV would launch its services with about one million decoders nationwide.

He said that at least 5,000 decoders TSTV would be released to the public next week for free, adding that it would use the first set of decoders with one month free subscription to test run its services.

“Commercialization of our decoders will resume officially on Nov. 1 and by that time, every part of Nigeria would have TSTV decoders for people to buy.

“We are releasing about one million which can go round and our target for the first quarter is one million units.

“In every quarter we will bring one million units and we are targeting four million units within the next one year.

“I can tell you categorically that some decoders will be released next week for Nigerians to test and we are going to cover the 36 states of the federation.

“These decoders are going to be free and it close to 5,000 units to test and that will last for two weeks,’’ he said.

Echefu disclosed that the delay in releasing the decoders to the public was to ensure that dealers were properly scrutinized so that the decoders do not fall into the wrong hands.

He explained that the decoder would be sold to Nigerians at a subsidized rate.

According to him, the landing cost of the decoder is N28,000.

“We don’t want a situation where someone would pick our decoders and dump them somewhere.

“That is why we are very careful because of competition.

“We have received well over 6,000 applications and it has been overwhelming processing these people; but so far, we have been able to accredit more than 748 dealers and we have received applications from more than 3,000 of them.

“That is why we have not commercialized our services even though we are the ones losing because we have enough decoders to cover the whole of Nigeria.

“But it will be unfair with all the money put in for us to give decoders out and those decoders don’t get to the end users,’’ Echefu added.

TSTV boss said that measures had been put in place to ensure its sustainability in terms of services, pledging that the organisation would be envied by many Nigerians in the next ten years.

He disclosed that the organisation currently had a total of 250 staff on direct employment, while it expects to that indirect employment would hit 10,000 at take off.

According to him, TSTV has improved on its transmission facilities to overcome weather challenges while expressing happiness over the acceptance by Nigerians.

He praised the Federal Government for the three years tax relief granted to the company to encourage more investors to come to Nigeria.

He said that the company would consolidate on the new tax policy to grow its business in the country and recoup its investment.

On the alleged copyright infringement on two international content providers, Turner Broadcasting System and beIN sports, Echefu said the company entered into partnership agreement with every concerned organisation.

According to him, TSTV will air CNN and beIN sport channels.

He commended DSTV for creating value for Nigerian content.

The new satellite pay TV was inaugurated on Oct. 1 but is yet to be viewed by the public.