Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikepazu, yesterday inaugurated a Digital Terrestial Televion (DTT) Centre belonging to Communication Network Company of China, operators of StarTimes Television.

The DTT, a booster station which woukd enhance broadcasting services of the pay TV company, is locate in Umuahia, capital of Abia State, South East Nigeria.

The Chinese-owned StarTimes, also known as NTA-Star Network because of its partnership with Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), is championing digitisation in Nigeria and by the commissioning of the DTT Center, has brought digital broadcasting to Abia.

“It is remarkable to note that the NTA Star TV DTT Center being commissioned today is the first of its kind in Nigeria and StarTimes remains the pioneering legal entity empowered by the Federal Government to champion the cause of digitisation in Nigeria,” said Chief Executive Officer of StarTimes, Jack Liu, during the event at the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) event field.

Liu noted that the commissioning would usher in digital broadcasting into Abia, adding that StarTimes remains the cheapest pay TV and encouraged Abians to embrace the new “digital life.”

Director General of NTA, Shola Omole, said many cities across the country were already enjoying the services of StarTimes which presently operating in more than 14 African countries.

Buttressing this assertion, the NTA Managing Director TV Enterprises, Maxwell Loko, said: “In the past five years, the company has deployed digital television to over 50 cities in Nigeria and plans to extend its operations to more cities. In all these cities, NTA-Star TV carries the local analogue TV station like the BCA, thereby preparing them for full digitisation.”

Loko described the partnership between NTA and StarTimes as strategic.

“This strategic partnership was a child of necessity resulting from the International Telecommunication Union's directive that all countries in Africa should transmit from analogue to digital broadcasting services by June, 2015. As at 2008 with the deadline fast approaching, NTA needed to blaze the trail by initiating a digitalisation process. Our response was to commence the NTA Digital Multi-Channel project.”

“To fulfil this objective, therefore, NTA entered into a joint-venture partnership with the Star Communication of China, which gave birth to NTA-Star Network with the operating name StarTimes,” Loko added.

The core objective of the partnership, he explained, “is to provide excellent, innovative and technology-driven digital terrestrial television that is affordable to all Nigerians.”

Director-General of Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) where the DTT Centre is located, Chief Alozie Ndulaka, said the partnership between NTA-Star Network and BCA has made it possible to beam the programmes of BCA to beamed beyond Abia State, adding that the station stands to reap more good things from the partnership.

Ikpeazu, represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, expressed happiness that StarTimes DTT was sited in Abia, pointing out that it would help place Abia State and activities of government on the global map.

He assured the operators that Abia was safe for investment, while her people were hospitable.

The programme featured the presentation of two digital TV sets with in-built decoders and a plaque to the Abia Government because of the support and encouragement they have given to the network.

The Deputy Speaker and House Committee Chairman on Information, Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe, Special Adviser to the Abia State Government on Project Monitoring and Implementation, Engr. Emma Nwabuko, the NUJ chairman, Comrade John Emejor, traditional rulers and dignitaries from all walks of life graced the occasion.