MultiChoice Africa (MCA), the pay-media company that offers DStv services both locally and across the continent, has said it will make available its bouquets of channels through cables to subscribers in Kenya.
Presently, the company delivers its DStv services to subscribers at home through the use of satellite and digital terrestrial transmission, and to users’ mobile devices through mobile distribution which uses digital video broadcasting (DVB) technology and streaming.
Now the pay-tv company wants to incorporate hybrid technology by sourcing local broadband service providers to offer its channels through coaxial cables, copper wire or the fibre optic cables.
MCA is inviting proposals from agents across the country who would be interested in distributing the DStv channels on their wired networks across the country and to also provide related subscriber management services.
This new move is part of the company’s efforts to expand its reach in Kenya by ensuring its range of channels are made available to subscribers anywhere and at any time and in result increase its subscriber base, which currently stands at over 200,000.
Agents submitting their proposals are required to have their own set-top boxes and encryption systems, which may be subject to validation from the company’s content providers in order to ensure content safety.
DStv will be joining its rival Zuku, which is already offering content to subscribers through both satellite service and the coaxial cable.
Kenya, however is currently facing the challenge of having to deal with cable vandalism which has risen across the country, with players in the telecom industry preferring to invest in fibre optic instead of the copper wire.
MCA is open to receive proposals until January 5, 2015.
