MultiChoice has announced a 50% price reduction in the cost of GOtv decoders ahead of the countrywide Analogue Switch Off (ASO) set for end of this month. The cost of the decoders, known technically as set top boxes, has dropped from Ksh3,400 to Ksh1,800.
Subscribers will also get free two month GOtv Plus subscription, according to GOtv Kenya General Manager Felix Kyengo, who said this gives TV owners the “easiest and most affordable” way to join the digital revolution.
“GOtv is uniquely placed as the home of African television. We have made great progress in delivering channels made in Kenya for Kenyans – like Maisha Magic Swahili – and have committed ourselves to offering channels made in Africa for Africa,” said Mr Kyengo. “All these efforts are meant to help Kenyans migrate to the digital platforms without hassle.”
The government announced last week that the switch-off will take place on 31st December 2014, a directive that has seen a spike in sales of set top boxes across the country. The phased approach will start with Nairobi and its environs, while the second phase will see all analogue TV along the Coast and Nyanza go off on February 2 2014.
The third phase will include the remaining areas and by March 2 2015 all analogue signals in the country will be off air. “We urge our customers to take advantage of this phased approach and buy the decoders in time to avoid the last minute rush,” added Kyengo.
Both MultiChoice Kenya’s content delivery platforms, Satellite Direct-to-Home (DStv) and Digital Terrestrial Transmission (GOtv), are already digital therefore current subscribers will not be affected by the analogue switch off. All GOtv subscribers will have a chance to see all channels that the pay TV offers on the weekend of December 5 to December 7 2014 for free so they can choose a bouquet that suits them.
“It’s an open content weekend on GOtv. This means you can now enjoy all your favourite entertainment programmes, broadcast in digital quality and all you need is a GOtv decoder,” said Mr Kyengo.
Since its launch in 2011, GOtv has been assisting the Kenyan government to achieve a smooth transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting and has already struck a deal with the government to aid in fast-tracking the migration. Mr Kyengo also assured Kenyans of an extensive GOtv decoder distribution network in all leading supermarkets and Mutichoice agents countrywide, starting with over 2000 selling points within Nairobi.
The company has enough set top boxes to meet market needs, he said. It has also trained installers known as GoFundis to aid in the installation process and offer after sales support to consumers.
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