A new digital TV set with inbuilt technology has been introduced by StarTimes, a major sub-saharan African pay-TV service provider. This new digital TV set incorporates technology that enables consumers to access StarTimes channels without the need for an additional decoder box.
The television, which goes by the moniker StarTimes Inside Sundial TV, comes equipped with a number of special features that set it apart from other televisions. It provides access to more than 300 local and international TV channels, which cover a wide range of genres including news, sports, films, and music. It includes a one-month subscription to StarTimes at no additional cost.
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Remark of Startimes Nigeria executive
Regarding the debut, the Director of TV Sales, Dele Ameh, made the following statement:
“The TV can connect to both antenna and satellite signals, ensuring clear and stable reception regardless of the location. It has an automatic TV system upgrade function, which means it can update itself with the latest software and features without hassle.”
“It is power saving, which means it consumes less electricity and helps users save money on their bills. It also comes with one month of StarTimes subscription-free, which means users can enjoy all the premium channels and services without paying anything extra.”
“The StarTimes Inside Sundial TV is affordably priced and comes in 32-inch and 43-inch sizes, offering customers choices at a reasonable cost plus an option to pay in instalments. It is available in StarTimes outlets and authorised dealers nationwide.”
Following the successful debut of the identical product in Rwanda, where it was met with great comments from both the Rwandan government and the public, StarTimes Inside Sundial TV has now been launched in Nigeria. Pang Xinxing, Chairman of the company, paid a visit to the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, on July 28 for the purpose of discussing further collaboration between the company and Rwanda in the advancement of digital TV technology.
President Kagame lauded StarTimes for its extraordinary growth and accomplishments, as well as the high-tech products it manufactures and sells. He gave them his word that his government would always stand behind them and would be willing to assist in the expansion of the company’s business.
“StarTimes is committed to providing its customers with the best digital TV experience in Nigeria and across Africa. With the StarTimes Inside Sundial TV, users can easily and conveniently access StarTimes channels and services on a high-tech TV set with very clear images. StarTimes invites everyone to try out this innovative product and witness the magic of digital TV,” Joshua Wang, CEO remarked.
Startimes History
Pang Xinxing, a Chinese engineer and the current chairman of StarTimes Group, established the company in 1988 and is also the head of the business. The year 2002 marked the beginning of the company’s expansion of its operations into the African continent. In 2007, Rwanda granted it a licence, making it the country’s first digital television operator. Since then, they have launched local operations in thirty other countries across Africa.
To facilitate the transition to digital broadcasting in Tanzania, StarTimes and the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation established a partnership in 2009. Ivory Coast’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) licence was granted to the company in February of 2016. October of 2016 marked the beginning of operations.
On November 23, 2016, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) announced that it had chosen the company as one of the three businesses that would go on to construct and run direct-to-home (DTH) distribution services in Pakistan for the next 15 years. An agreement about the transition to digital media was signed by the Government of Chad and the company on September 2, 2017.
Following a drawn-out selection process, the company was given the contract to construct a Digital Terrestrial Television network. This network will be responsible for the digitalization of national infrastructures, as well as the broadcasting and reception of television signals. In 2018, they began implementing “Access to satellite TV for 10,000 African villages,” a China-Africa cooperation initiative with the goal of providing rural areas of Africa with access to digital media. This project was funded by the Chinese government.
A public signal distributor and Zambia’s official digital migration agent, TopStar Communication Company Limited was established as a joint venture in 2017 by the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and StarTimes.
In June 2018, the company introduced ON, an over-the-top (OTT) video streaming service that gives users in Africa access to dozens of channels.
In the year 2020, it introduced its online purchasing platform known as StarTimes GO. This interactive online shopping platform, which can be accessed from anywhere in Africa, is backed by television, the internet, and telephone call services.