StarTimes Media, the pay TV company, has ventured into production of digital television sets. The company is already retailing Startimes Digital Television sets in the Kenyan market which come with an inbuilt decoder.
The venture comes as demand for set top boxes, commonly known as decoders, drop as more kenyans resort to buying TV sets with pre-installed digital receivers. StarTimes, which has been relying on selling decoders and subscription, will be battling out with mainstream brands in consumer electronics including Samsung, LG, Hisense, Sony and Panasnic among others.
Digital TV comes with an inbuilt decoder that receives both terrestrial and satellite signals and does not need an external set-top box.
Speaking during the launch today at the Stanley Hotel, StarTimes Vice President Mr Mark Lisboa said the company was responding to evolving technology.
One of the key features of the StarTimes Digital TV is the ability to receive both satellite and terrestrial television signals without connecting an external set-top box. The new television product, which comes in three sizes (24”, 32” and 40”), is designed to decode digital signals by itself thereby saving customers valuable resources.
“This is an install and watch,” Mr Lisboa said. “It does not require an external set top box to broadcast satellite and terrestrial signals and utilizes a single remote control to manage both the content and the television set.”
StarTimes Digital TV is designed to save up to 50 per cent power. It also comes with full High Definition LED screen, Dobly audio system, wide voltage input, HDMI aand USB ports that extend an array of options to the user. It can deliver more than 200 pay television stations as well as free to air channels.
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