Cable television providers in the country are in for fierce competition with the launch of Continental Satellite Limited (Consat), an indigenous satellite television provider which has vowed to entrench local content programming for over 160 million Nigerians who have been deprived of watching satellite TV because of the high cost of ownership.

Consat is leveraging on global and reliable technology platform from Eutelsat to launch its channel cutting-edge satellite service to herald digital experience for Nigerian subscribers at a time Nigeria is joining the rest of the world to migrate from analogue to digital television transmission starting this month.

Consat CEO, Mr Mayokun   Okunola said they are focused on ensuring the growth of the Nigerian entertainment industry by delivering the best in Nigerian culture, news, music, entertainment and lifestyle to a worldwide audience. He said the aim is to be the platform of choice by providing over 10 free channels for local and international content. Consat offers MPEG4 digital compression technology broadcasting of over 55 channels with a view to reaching 100 channels in 2015.

Okunola said “Content is key to this industry. Our investment cannot be fully maximised if new providers are not able to air compelling and relevant content. It would be an unfair start. There is a prevalence of exclusivity that is steering this industry in the wrong direction. These issues need to be discussed by the stakeholders; regulators and other content providers in the industry so that we can find an amicable solution. We need a fair start.”

“Nigerians have come to expect diversity in terms of what they watch and listen to. We are a nation that attracts the attention of people around the world; content providers like us are expected to provide the best in information and entertainment content that showcases why Nigeria is so important to the world. CONSAT will definitely resonate with viewers, especially working professionals seeking international exposure,” Okunola stressed.

 

Nigeria-based pay-TV platform, Continental Satellite Limited (CONSAT), launched its services in the country earlier this week. The new entrant aims to cut through the monopoly in the Nigerian pay-TV market and provide more ‘content at a fairer price’.

CONSAT, which is owned by former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is seeking to offer satellite TV for middle and low income earners, by allowing subscribers to only pay for the channels they want to watch.

“We operate from Nigeria, have cutting edge technology, are affordable and provide compelling content for our viewers” said Mayokun Okunola, CEO of CONSAT.

CONSAT decoder is available for NGN 14,999 (USD 92) with a two month free subscription and free installation. The pay-TV platform initially has 55 channels with international and local channels for news, music, sports, religion, documentary and movies. However, the pay-TV platform plans to increase its channel portfolio to 70 by the end of 2014 and later to over 100 channels by 2015.

“Our content providers are very passionate, we plan on developing our own content. It is our mandate to air contents from Nigeria and take it across the world, we will continue to invest in content,” said Addy Awofisayo, Director of Content at CONSAT.

 

The plan to float a pay TV platform by Bola Tinubu has been in the pipeline for some time now. The equipment used in the setting up of the company was shipped in to Nigeria last year from Europe. According to inside source, about N250 million went into setting up the new television venture.

Tinubu’s intention to set up this new pay TV is borne out of his inability to take over assets of HiTV, a pay TV company where he is said to have financial stakes.

GTBank’s terms and condition is identified as a stumbling block to Tinubu’s takeover bid and that was after the company packed up due to huge debts and its CEO, Toyin Subair left the employment of the company.

CONSAT will no doubt give other pay TV platforms like DSTV, Startimes, a run for their money in terms of services and reach. Tinubu’s CONSAT is said to be cheaper and provides more channels than other platforms.
The company’s official colour is yellow and black.

 

The Consat system comes with a 90cm dish, decoder, smart card, and dish accessories. The smart card is married to the decoder when activated.

The frequency is 11293 and symbol rate 45000 H. Eutelsat’s 16° East orbital position
The Consat Bouquets are

1. Free-to-View – N1,000 a year, has 29 channels

2. Basic – N1,000 a month, has 40 channels

3. Mini Premium – N2,000 a month, has 55 channels

4. Premium – N4,000 a month, has 66+ channels

 

Some of the available channels are:

- Jim Jam
- TVC Entertainment
- WAP TV
- KBS
- Fine Living
- Dove TV
- TVC News
- LTV
- NHK
- TV5MONDE
- France 24
- Bloomberg
- MSNBC
- A-Plus Movies
- DW
- Nigezie
- TVC Nolly (English)
- TVC Movies (Yoruba)
- TVC Movies (Hausa)
- Yoruba Swagger
- Al-Jazeera
- Fashion TV
- BET
- Viasat Nature
- Viasat History
- Viasat Explorer
- Fox Business
- Fox News
- BBC
- Optima Sports
- Sports Plus
- Motovision
- Eurosports News
- Nickelodeon Europe
- FilmBox Arthouse
- FightBox
- DocuBox
- FashionBox
- Fast&FunBox
- 360 TuneBox., etc