By Bampia James Bundu
Transnational Sierra Leone, the official representative of the South Africa-based DSTV Multi-choice TV network, has unveiled two new decoders - DSTV HD ZAPPER and EXPLORA, ahead of the much anticipated switch to digital broadcasting – dubbed digital migration.
June 2015 was set as the deadline for all member countries of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to complete the migration process which will see all broadcasters switch from analogue to digital system of broadcasting.
Most developed countries have since completed the migration, while most of Africa, among them Sierra Leone, lags behind.
DSTV, the leader in the pay TV business in the country, had already been broadcasting through digital means. Transnational officials say the new decoders were meant to boost their services in anticipation of the digital migration switch.
Marketing Manager of Transnational Sierra Leone, Diana Scott, said at the launching ceremony in Freetown recently that the new decoders had more content, better content discovery, modern and intuitive user interface, as well as better PVRS features, compared to the previous ones. She assured that the new decoders would enable users to be more comfortable and that they could do real time recording for 220 hrs.
Ms Scott said the new equipment allows the viewer to pause and play at their own timing and set reminders for favorite programs.
Transnational is on the process of replacing the old decoders from qualified subscribers. The target for completion of the replacement is June this year.
The cost of the HD Zapper is $165 and the Explorer is $600.
General Manager of Transnational Sierra Leone, Cecil Coker, assured subscribers of quality facilities with the new decoders. He said by June the old decoders would hardly be useful to users.
A subscriber of DVTS, Steven Conteh, called on Transnational to re-consider the prizes of the new decoders.
© Politico 12/03/15
