Customers reap big at Expo as competition in Media industry climbs

Following the arrival of a third pay TV in Rwanda, the Star Africa Media, the industry has become competitive. Star Africa Media, the newest pay television in Rwanda with more than $20 million (Frw10.9 billion) investment has brought GTV and the old lady-DSTV with four years of operation, to cut costs of owning, subscribing and viewing. Gone are now the days when one could walk in a bar empty of bottles without any form of entertainment. Every pub and evening joints now have one or two of these three pay TVs, since there is a fight for different league’s broadcasting rights. GTV owns about 90 percent of premier league and Serie A rights, DSTV owns FA Cup, Spainish la-Lega and Uefa Championship rights, while Star Africa Media has a soccer channel that also broadcasts Scottish league. This is quiet different from before when the national television was the only option to provide viewers with entertainment. According to Star Africa Media’s chief executive officer Xie Ken, the company’s arrival in the media industry has not only boosted the pay TV industry, but has also increased the competition in East African country. With Star Africa in the market at Frw81, 000 per decoder, DSTV and GTV have cut down their prices to be competitive. DSTV lowered its price from Frw214, 000 to Frw184, 000 while GTV went from Frw246, 000 to Frw143, 000. To stay competitive, GTV also started rewarding new and old subscribers with an original England football jersey worth Frw50, 000. However, Adolph Le Arangwa, spokesperson at DSTV Tele 10, said he was also not worried by Star Africa Media’s entrance but only to expect more and attractive packages from DSTV. DSTV has 100 plus channels making it the widest provider of alternatives but this does not mean other two competitors cannot do it with their limited number of channels—just a third of DSTV’s. Once you own, Star Africa Media’s facilities, you get access to Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) and Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC). In such an environment of competitive advantage to viewers as the TV clients, watching a game costs less than a penny now. This does not undermine the role of the national TV in promoting the country’s development and reconciliation yet unsubscribed for, but rather explains how there is a wide choice of view at competitive rates. Steven Baguma, the country manger of GTV in Rwanda, said GTV is just clocking a year but much has be achieved as there has been upgrading of packages to suit almost everyone making pay TV enjoyable for everyone. He explained that competition is necessary to keep the market healthy since a market without competition is a bore. He said: “Competition leads to the creation of new ideas hence improvement in service.” This is very convenient for viewers, especially for the soccer fans, since the heat is just getting started with European football seasons knocking. To Stevenson Nzaramba, a premiership soccer fan, it has become increasingly cheap to watch a single game costing you as low as Frw200 or a bottle of drink in a bar. Since there are times when games are screened at the same time, there are high chances of watching two live matches on different screens. This is only possible in places that subscribe to both companies but making it uncomfortable for those who buy a decoder for domestic use since they cannot own both unless financially stable. This also reminds of the chaos when one moves from one joint to another to watch a game owned by another. It is a war of rights!!!! The FA Cup and Uefa Champions league for example will be watched by different subscribers. Ends