Zambian pay TV revenues to rise with advent of new DTT bouquet

Dataxis research analizes the FTA and Pay-TV markets in Zambia

MAURITIUS — The Zambian Pay-TV market saw subscriber revenues total approximately US$21.13 million in 2014, growing in value by 121% since 2008. Dataxis forecasts that revenues will grow to US$53.26 million by end-2018 with Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) taking an increasing proportion of the total following the licensing of a new player in 2015/16.

MultiChoice Africa launched the GOtv DTT platform in partnership with Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) in June, 2011, and is currently the only DTT provider in the country. However, tender for a private digital signal distributor will be held soon to operate in tandem with the state-owned signal distributor – ZNBC, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services.

Star Software Technology (a subsidiary of Chinese DTT provider, StarTimes) won Phase I of the digital migration tender for ZNBC in April, 2014, which includes 12 digital transmitters valued at US$9.55 million. Contracts for a further 72 sites in Phase II and III, to be installed in all districts and remote parts of the country respectively, have not yet been awarded.

A new report from Dataxis – Pay-TV/ FTA Broadcasting in Zambia – shows DTH accounted for 62% of total pay-TV subscribers end-2014 – an increase of 20% on end-2013. There are currently four pay-DTH providers – DStv, Zuku, My TV and Muvi TV. Muvi TV is an analogue broadcaster which launched pay-DTH services in December, 2014. Zuku also launched in December, while a fifth provider – StarSat, the StarTimes-owned DTH platform, is currently looking for distributors to start selling its service.
DStv had the largest installed base of the four platforms end 2014 with a 94% market share, followed by Zuku with 3%.