By NELLA MUKALENGE

MULTICHOICE Zambia in partnership with Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has introduced a new pay-television which will allow Zambians to join the digital revolution and enjoy 19 television channels.

The new service called GOtv service is part of Zambia’s goal to migrate from analogue to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).

GOtv will offer both local and international channels for Africa at K35,000 per month and a decoder with three months subscription for K455,000.

The service was launched in Lusaka on Tuesday night.

MultiChoice Zambia public relations officer Marlon Kananda said the newly introduced television service will contribute to Government’s commitment of migrating to digital from analogue.

DTT refers to the broadcasting of terrestrial television in a digital format and most African countries are in the process of planning and implementing the digital television which has enhanced pictures and quality sound.

“GOtv will deliver digital television to everyone and will enable them experience the digital television revolution in their homes. It supports the Zambian government’s commitment to migrating from analogue to digital by 2015,” he said.

Mr Kananda said the service has 19 channels which will enable subscribers have access to news, children’s programming, documentaries series and movies, among others.

“Subscribers will benefit from the increased number of channels, as well as improved pictures and sound quality which is synonymous with digital television,” he said.

He said the company will soon introduce the service to other countries around the world and build a strong backbone to ensure GOtv survives.

Commenting on the service, ZNBC director- general Eddie Mupeso said, “In the next few years, the current analogue signals will be switched off and ZNBC will become digital. This means that viewers will need to use a DDT decoder in order to receive a TV signal in future.”

And GOtv spokesperson Lee Nonde said the introduction of the service is the latest digital technology platform, adding that it will be available to customers with only a decoder or a grid antenna.

“The arrival of GOtv marks the introduction of a new service on a technology platform that subscribers can afford. All you need to receive GOtv is a DTT decoder or either a stub or grid antenna,” he said.