So much took place in 2023 as regards cable TV services and how Africans fared. The year 2023 witnessed so many changes in cost of subscriptions to cable TV services struggling to become the best in channel content and profiting. Infact, there is currently a rat race to capture the entire Africa market in the cable and satellite TV industry. So many such as DStv, GOtv, Startimes etc came up with new prices for both subscription tariffs and decoder sales. As a result, Nigerians and indeed all Africa are currently confused as regards the best choice to make for the new year 2024. Therefore, this article provides a reliable guide to help you discover the best Cable TV for 2024 for Nigerians and Africans at large. Certainly, most cable TV operators in Nigeria are also present in other African countries and doing very well. Cable TV services are constantly competing, innovating new technologies and price strategies to outwit the others. I will help you review best Cable TV networks for consideration in the year 2024. This is the Nigeria’s and Africa’s trusted review on best Cable TV in 2024, in subscription cost, content, technology and signal coverage.
WHAT IS A CABLE TV
A cable TV is a television system, which receives signal transmissions or sends audio-visual signals through a coaxial cable medium. By this definition, a cable TV system may be either analog or digital. While all cable TV systems are Over-the-Air (OTA), they could either be analog terrestrial (ATT), Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) by way of spiked antenna receiver or Direct-to-Home (DTH), which is the Satellite TV. In summary, cable TV cuts across all of the following systems;
- Analog Terrestrial TV (ATT)
- Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT or DTH)
Cable TV signals transmit over the air space by way of radio frequencies (RF) for analog TV systems, digital radio waves for digital terrestrial TV and soft digital impulses for Direct-to-Home (DTH) or satellite TV transmissions. Examples of the analog cable TV is your old outdated monochrome TV with spikes-like airel antennas. However, terrestrial cable TV systems include networks such as GOtv, Startimes Terrestrial and CTL cable antenna. Furthermore, the digital soft impulse DTH cable TV systems include the DStv, MyTV, Startimes Dish and all other TV systems that receive signals via the up-faced satellite Dish receivers. Among all these TV services and more are some who kept great track records in content, technology and pricing. Therefore, I shall focus in summarizing the best Cable TV for 2024 considerations based on programme content, technology and subscription pricing in recent years. There are also other Cable TV services that prove better in signal coverage area as well as ease of using their devices and technologies. However, let us look at the list of available Cable TV services in Africa, including Nigeria.
Similarly, a Cable TV signals can also distribute or link though the coaxial cable. Consequently, this ability makes it one of the most desirable or best form of TV systems because of convenience and relative cost-effectiveness. This is the case of distributing signals from one decoder to multiple TVs at home. In short, cable TVs are wired TV systems.
CABLE TV NETWORKS IN NIGERIA
In Nigeria today, here are some of the best Cable TV service in content and coverage, available for viewers – both paid subscribers and free-to-air (FTA) as follows;
- African Cable Television
- CTL
- Daarsat
- DStv
- GOtv
- KAFTAN TV
- Kwese TV
- Metro Digital
- Montage Cable Network
- Mytv
- OurTV
- Play Consat
- Sairtek
- StarTimes Terrestrial
- Startimes Dish
- TrendTV
- TStv
TStv went off air but since October 202, has been fully functional and on air too. Similarly, Startimes has been doing very well and consistent on its digital TV Terrestrial (DTT) and Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite TV platforms. Sairtek has been a top broadcast service provider in lagos Nigeria, providing free -o-air (FTA) TV transmissions, live streaming, satellite, OTT and IPTV services. Sairtek Cable TV also offers distribution and contribution services, making it one of the best Cable Television operators in Lagos, Nigeria.
Furthermore, KWESE TV sadly discontinued its satellite TV services as far back as 2019, but maintains its flourishing digital Terrestrial TV services. They came on board when Nigerians were in dire need of strong competitor to the DStv.
CABLE TV SERVICES IN AFRICA
These comprise of satellite and terrestrial TV services in Nigeria as listed above, and much more as listed below;
- beIN (middle East and north Africa)
- My-HD (middle East and north Africa)
- OSN (middle East and north Africa)
- Crystal TV – Digital Terrestrial (Ghana)
- Multichoice – DSTV & GOTV
- Multitv – Multichannel free-to-air (FTA)
- RCS – Multichannel free-to-air (FTA)
- azam TV (East Africa)
- Canal+ (East Africa)
- Zuku TV (East Africa)
- OpenView HD (South Africa)
- StarSat (South Africa)
Cable TV providers such as MultiChoice has spread to almost all parts of Africa. This is why its coverage for their satellite and terrestrial pay-TV services 0 DStv and GOtv respectively are widely received all over Africa. Furthermore, other networks are also received in most parts of Africa, if a competent satellite TV installer tracks the satellite TV with some expertise for best signal results. In all these lists, which can we say is the best Cable TV for 2024 for Africans to enjoy?
BEST CABLE TV OPTIONS FOR NIGERIA, AFRICA IN 2024
- DStv, a satellite TV with paid subscriptions from MultiChoice Limited still remains the best choice. It is highly rated in digital and true High Definition (HD) contents. DStv as a cable TV system also features lots of interactive and value-added services such as the Box Office on DStv Explora Decoder. Other Add-on features include video-on-demand, programmable channel settings, decoder-based account management, Personal Video Recording (PVR) decoder controls, etc. DStv as the best Cable TV in town is at the center of live Sports entertainment such as English Premier league and others. Factually, MultiChoice DStv currently maintains an unbeatable standard. The brand reflects a master-stroke in TV technology as well as a status symbol to own at home. However, DStv subscription tariffs and cost of purchasing new decoder sets are expensive. Check out the DStv and GOtv 2023 Subscription Rates here.
- GOtv, also a product from MultiChoice is doing very well in the African best Cable TV brands space. It is a digital Terrestrial pay-TV with lots of digital HD contents, channels and lots of interactivity. Although the cost of subscriptions recently went higher, acceptability for this brand remains high. The 2023 GOtv price review speaks for itself, although millions of viewers still consider it one of the best cable TV services.
- Startimes popularity keeps growing all over Africa. Originally a partnership product between a Chinese tech giant and a broadcasting firm in Nigeria, Startimes now enjoys consistent growth in customer base. Looking at the Startimes Subscription Price review 2023, 2024 has shown relative stability in cost of bouquet subscriptions over time. Startimes best strategy so far had been to diversify its product brands to operate both a terrestrial and satellite TV (Startimes Dish), all digital.
MORE CABLE TV SERVICES STRIVING TO BECOME BEST
Many other cable TV services are also doing reliably well in one or two areas. This is inevitable because the African market in general is largely virgin and holds a lot of economic potentials. Its human resources alone running into hundreds of millions, if not billions is a sure bet for striving cable TV companies. The best cable TV services for Africa in 2024 keeps evolving because operators are breaking even by the day. New technologies are emerging, providing room for inattentiveness and breaking new grounds. More channels, more content, richer packages, cheaper tariffs, better technologies all provide avenues to become better, and better to best Cable TV service in Nigeria, Africa for 2024.
