NAIROBI, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese media company StarTimes and Azuri Technologies on Tuesday signed a partnership to expand TV reach to Kenya's off-grid customers.
StarTimes CEO Zhang Junqi told a media briefing in Nairobi that under the collaboration, residents in areas not connected to the national electricity grid will have an opportunity to access high quality local and international TV content.
"The partnership will see customers acquire a solar-powered 24" TV with the Free-to-Air channels and up to 40 StarTimes channels delivered via a TV aerial or satellite dish, all available on a pay-as-you-go basis," Zhang said.
StarTimes is Africa's leading digital television operator, serving over ten million subscribers and covers over 90 percent of the continent's population.
The clients will also receive lightning from four powerful LED lights, a phone charging point, rechargeable torch and a radio.
Zhang said currently StarTimes can only reach on-grid consumers, so by partnering with the providers of PayGo solar, Star Times content will now be available country wide, giving customers more choice in the content they are able to enjoy.
Azuri Technologies CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth said the increased benefits of providing households with access to broadcast content is not only an entertainment medium but also a strong education platform.
"We are hugely excited about the partnership with StarTimes and the opportunity to expand the range of content available to our TV customers. TV is rapidly emerging as the must-have service after lightning, bringing not just entertainment but also many powerful social and educational benefits to the household," noted Bransfield-Garth.
Sammy Itemere, the Principal Secretary for Broadcasting in the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, noted the significant role the private sector continues to play in facilitating access to information through television with the country having migrated from analogue to digital broadcasting platform.
"As a government, we continue to encourage efforts that will progressively transform the lives of Kenyans. As we work tirelessly to connect the majority of Kenyans to the national grid such partnerships between Azuri and Star Times will go a long way towards ensuring the public has access to information," noted Itemere.
He said that over the past decade vernacular radio and TV channels have burgeoned into relevant sources of information and have led to increased job opportunities and contributed to the knowledge economy.
"Now the customer has more choice and can access content in a language they are most comfortable with," he said.
Itemere noted that the partnership will be providing content to rural customers, thereby contributing largely to the creative economy.
"We need to take the lead and encourage our talented youth to not only consume talent but also be able to produce local content that will enable the entertainment ecosystem in Kenya to flourish," he added.
