Airtel Uganda on 11th February 2020 launched a Live TV and Video on Demand (VOD) service, offering a portfolio of local and international content sourced from some of the largest studios across the globe.
The service that is only available to Airtel Uganda subscribers, allows users to stream live, up to 11 local television channels and growing, as well a series of local and international content at no cost- provided one has an active data bundle.
Speaking during the launch, the Airtel Uganda Managing Director Mr. V.G Somasekhar noted that Airtel TV is the embodiment of convenient and affordable entertainment.
“The platform will deliver the very best of entertainment experience directly to all Airtel customers across the country. With our 4G network, subscribers to Airtel Tv will enjoy a seamless viewing experience without any interruptions. We are confident that the platform will delight, entertain and inspire Airtel customers as it offers first-class entertainment,” he said.
“This App will have different local news, music, Ugandan comedy and movies, in addition to streaming of sports, video-on-demand and many other offerings. We encourage Uganda’s local content producers to utilize this platform for revenue,” he added.
Innovation is a core value at Airtel. We create solutions offering our customers a good experience at the most affordable rates. Today we launch the Airtel TV App offering a premium mix of local & international content sourced from some of the largest studios across the globe. pic.twitter.com/W1xtuEOfsr
— VG Somasekhar (@MDAirtel_UG) February 13, 2020
Letters to My Younger Self: What Uganda’s CEOs and Professionals Wish They Knew at the StartAccording to a media statement by the company, users on Airtel TV can watch movies — Ugawood, Nollywood and Bollywood as well as other international content channels such as Bloomberg Television, Trace (Urban, Africa, Mziki, Tropical, Gospel, and Sports Stars), Gametoon, Fashion Box, Nautical, God TV, Inspiration TV, and Al Jazeera, among others.
To access Airtel TV, Airtel Uganda subscribers have to download the Airtel TV App from Playstore for Android or iOS for iPhone, enter their Airtel number and the OTP SMS received. Subscribers will then be able to stream and watch all channels available on the App as long they have an active data bundle.
In a recent interview with CEO EA Magazine, Somasekhar said that with Airtel’s introduction of 100% countrywide 3G and 4G technologies as well as the introduction of affordable bundles for as low as UGX1500 per GB on broadband, Airtel would now set its eyes on creating content.
“I see content driving a lot of the digital future,” he said, adding: “I think the responsibility of telecoms is really not to build the networks alone, but the major question is now- what are you going to consume on those networks? We will be partnering with content providers to make content available, which means that we will really see entertainment change.”
Somasekhar said that the world of entertainment especially television was moving from appointment viewing to the more convenient TV and video on demand and streaming.
“This is what affordable broadband at home enables,” he said, at the time.
