MultiChoice Malawi launches low-cost GOtv services
The country’s only DStv services provider, MultiChoice Malawi, on Wednesday unveiled a low-cost pay-television service called GOtv. The launch took place at Mount Soche Hotel in the commercial city Blantyre.
GOtv, which uses the latest generation Digital Video Broadcast, offers the greatest selection of Africa as well as international channels and costs from as low as K2,500 per month for the standard service and K3,500 for GOtv Plus.
To access GOtv, customers will need to purchase a decoder and its antenna which are currently selling at a special introductory price of K36,500 and includes three months GOtv Plus viewing.
The service, which is currently available in Blantyre, but will soon be rolled out in other parts of the country, among others provides access to sport, news, children’s programming, documentaries, series and movies.
Some of the channels available on GOtv are Africa Magic, BET, ETV Africa, Channel O, MTV Base, Sony Max, SuperSport Blitz and SuperSport Select as well as Discovery World, NAT GEO Wild, KidsCo and Disney Junior.
State broadcaster MBC TV is also available on the digital terrestrial television and can be accessed even without paying subscription fee.
Malawi becomes the fourth country to have the latest MultiChoice product after Kenya, Zambia and Uganda.
In his remarks, MultiChoice Malawi general manager Stephen Knight said the company was excited to unveil GOtv in the country as it forms part of its strategy to contribute to Malawi’s digital knowledge and economy through infrastructure investments.
“MultiChoice has been working closely with the Government [of Malawi] to explore areas of convergence where it can assist in providing affordable digital television to everyone.
“GOtv is not just about improvements in the quality of TV pictures and sound, overall the benefits of affordable digital television for all will come from equal access to information which is key to development,” said Knight.
With the 2013 African Cup of Nations starting this weekend in South Africa, Malawians are set to enjoy the best of live soccer entertainment with all the 32 games live on GOtv.
Meanwhile, the coming of GOtv in the country is expected to uplift the country’s entertainment industry, according to MultiChoice Malawi sales and marketing manager Chimwemwe Nyirenda.
Speaking in an interview after the unveiling ceremony, Nyirenda said GOtv intends to work closely with the country’s artists in the areas of music, drama and the movie industry, among others.
“We want to push out local material to get our talent somewhere. We will be working hand-in-hand with Malawian artists to give them a platform to promote their talents further,” said Nyirenda.
“We will have a lot of local music videos, films and drama series, among others,” he added.
For a start, the company involved the country’s local musicians Lucius Banda, Wendy Harawa, Maskal, Piksy, Lulu, Dan Lu and Armstrong to produce the GOtv anthem which also has a video.
There is also a drama series that features renowned dramatists Izeki ndi Jakobo as well as Winiko and will be showing on both GOtv and MBC TV.
After Blantyre, MultiChoice is expected to roll out GOtv in Lilongwe in April, before taking the service to other parts of the country later in the year.
